Gunny sack

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A gunny sack is a bag made of burlap. Gunny sacks are traditionally used for transporting grains, potatoes, or other agricultural products. Today they are also sometimes used as sandbags for erosion control. They are usually made from jute and other natural based fibers. Gunny sacks are also popular in the traditional children's game of sack races.

Contents

[edit] Advantages of Gunny Sacks

[edit] High Tensile Strength

Since gunny sacks are made from natural fibers, some consider them to be fairly environmentally and child friendly. Sacks made from jute and kenaf fiber have high tensile strength. As a result, piling sacks one on top of the other does not tear or distort the yarn of the two lowest residing sacks in the pile.

[edit] Low Extensive

Gunny sacks also are low extensive. Therefore, when packaging grains, the grains are less likely to spill out of the sack and the sacks return to its previous form, even if the sack is stabbed with hooks or other punching devices.

[edit] Breathability

Gunny sacks have high breathability allowing air to pass through them, which in turn helps the grains or other agricultural commodities stay fresh.

[edit] Non-carcinogenic or Non-toxic

Gunny sacks are non-carcinogenic and non-toxic. Some feel that the aforementioned properties make gunny sacks superior to polypropylene sacks.

[edit] Other Uses

Gunny Sack is an aphorism for saving or storing complaints or criticism for use at a later time.