1. Flax Plant Characteristics:

- Low water requirements: Flax, the plant from which linen is made, requires significantly less water to grow compared to other crops like cotton. It can thrive with natural rainfall, reducing the need for irrigation.

- Minimal pesticide and fertiliser use: Flax is relatively resilient and can be grown with little or no chemical inputs like pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, which helps reduce soil and water pollution.

- Carbon sequestration: Flax plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during their growth, helping to offset carbon emissions. Flax also enhances soil quality and reduces the need for extensive soil treatment.

2. Renewable and Biodegradable:

- Natural fibre: Linen is a natural fibre, meaning it’s derived from a renewable resource. The flax plant can be harvested annually.

- Biodegradable: Unlike synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon, linen is fully biodegradable. When disposed of, it breaks down naturally without releasing harmful chemicals or microplastics into the environment.

3. Energy-efficient Processing:

- Mechanical rather than chemical processing: The process of transforming flax into linen involves mechanical processes like retting, scutching, and weaving, which use less energy and chemicals compared to the production of synthetic fibres. There is no need for high-energy, chemical-intensive treatments in its production.

4. Long-lasting and durable:

- Durability: Linen is incredibly strong and long-lasting. Garments made from linen tend to last for many years, reducing the need for frequent replacement and lowering overall consumption.

- Reduced waste: Since linen products are long-lasting, they help reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. People often buy less frequently when their clothing lasts longer.

5. Low-impact dyeing:

- Natural dyeing options: Linen can be dyed using natural or low-impact dyes, which reduce the environmental impact of textile production compared to conventional synthetic dyes.

6. Utilisation of the whole plant:

- Versatile crop: Every part of the flax plant can be used, minimising waste. Aside from linen production, flax seeds are used for oil (linseed oil) or food (flaxseeds), and flax straw can be used in making paper or animal bedding.

7. End of life:

- Recyclable and compostable: Linen can be recycled into other textile products or composted at the end of its life, making it a cradle-to-cradle material.