What is organic linen?

What is organic linen?

Organic linen is a natural plant-based material grown mainly in temperate areas close to the sea (such as Belgium and northern France). Known for its strength, its plant fibre is used in textiles as well as in industry.

Organic linen is grown without pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilisers or GMOs. Treating flax with natural fertilisers and insecticides avoids the use of products that are toxic to the environment, farmers and end consumers.

It is worth noting, however, that linen, even when not organic, is considered an eco-friendly material. Growing linen uses little water and few pesticides.

How can you recognise organic linen?

Several labels guarantee the traceability of products across the whole textile supply chain. The GOTS label (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifies whether or not a fabric is made from organic linen fibre (from the raw materials right through to the finished product).

Likewise, the Oeko-Tex label tells consumers whether or not the textile they are buying is free from toxic products (dyes, textiles etc.). This label does not guarantee the organic origin of the fibre itself; it certifies that the products have not been treated with toxic substances harmful to the consumer's health.

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Producing organic, local linen: an alternative ?

Used well, linen is a perfect alternative for making eco-friendly clothing, as it is a soft, strong and biodegradable material. Today, several associations are working to develop an organic linen supply chain, notably to guarantee eco-friendly finishing of the product (improving how flax is processed once harvested).

But this organic farming accounts for only 1% of total linen production. With this more local method, scutching and weaving can be carried out in the same area where the flax is grown, reducing its environmental impact. Normandy is on its way to becoming the first testing ground in France for making organic linen from A to Z.

Sophie and Mathieu Grenier, presidents of the association les Pieds d’Artemare, are fighting to make eco-friendly linen production standard practice : “ our challenge is to change farming habits by bringing organic back into made in France textiles ”. Producing more locally means producing more responsibly and more sustainably.