the barometer of european flax / linen 2015

THE BAROMETER
OF EUROPEAN
FLAX / LINEN 2015
FLAX, A GREEN AND INNOVATIVE
FIBRE.
A EUROPEAN INDUSTRY COMMITTED
TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM.
KEY INDICATORS &
INFOGRAPHICS
A
report by
&
1
PRESS RELEASE - 21 MAY 2015
BAROMETER OF EUROPEAN FLAX 2015
FLAX – A GREEN AND INNOVATIVE FIBRE
A leading player in its economic, social and environmental
ecosystem, could European Flax be the Champion
of Sustainable Development? The BAROMETER OF
EUROPEAN FLAX 2015 offers an original insight.
Press Relations —
UK
SUSAN MCHUGH ASSOCIATES
Susie McHugh
[email protected]
Sue Spencer
[email protected]
T: + 44 (0) 20 8785 1184
F: + 44 (0) 20 8785 1183
Corporate
COSI COMMUNICATION
Dimitri Soverini
[email protected]
T : +33 (0) 6 07 25 15 52
Press dossiers + HD visuals freely
available to download
in the pressroom www.cosicom.net
FLAX HELPS THE PLANET TO BREATHE
Every year, the growing of Flax in Europe results in the capture of
250,000 tons of CO2, which is a saving equivalent to driving a Renault
Clio around the earth 62,000 times.
RAIN WATER IS ENOUGH FOR EUROPEAN FLAX! If tomorrow, all
French people bought a linen shirt instead of a cotton one, it would save
the equivalent of all of Paris’s drinking water for a year. Another striking
point to the argument: buying a linen shirt corresponds to a saving of
thirteen 1.5 litre bottles of water!
With 81,300 hectares of flax fibre cultivated in 2014 amounting to 80%
of the world’s production, Europe is the N°1 name when it comes to
this Continental speciality. The growing area extends from Caen to
Amsterdam and boasts the same environmental virtues: zero irrigation,
zero defoliant, zero waste, but especially ZERO GMO. A commitment
undertaken by all flax producers, all signatories of the EUROPEAN FLAX
Charter, the qualitative visa for European flax fibre in all its applications.
HAS EUROPEAN FLAX ALWAYS BEEN THE FIBRE OF THE FUTURE?
Between product performance and market reality, flax composites
are poised to make a decisive leap. What is a composite? Two or
more materials that by combining their properties create new ones.
By incorporating technical flax textile fibres in these new-generation
composites, the resulting reduction in weight, for the same strength
level, leads to a reduction in fuel consumption.
LIGHTEN UP!
In aviation, all it takes is an airplane cabin interior and its service trolleys to
be made using flax to deliver a weight reduction allowing for substantial
savings in fuel. Around 2.1 million litres a year, the equivalent to 2555
Paris to New York return flights.
As for the automobile industry, if all the cars sold in the EU in 2014
had integrated a frame of flax composites it would have resulted in
462 millions litres of fuel saved per year, equal to the quantity of fuel
consumed making 5.7 millions return journeys in a Renault Clio between
Lille and Marseille.
LINEN, A FIBRE FOR DEMANDING CONSUMERS
Purchasers of linen are a reflection of the product they’re buying: twice as
committed as the rest of the population (29% vs 14%), they carefully read
the labels, and 61% say they are ready to pay more for a certified product,
contributing to the emergence of a new collaborative society through the
exchange of goods and services (22% vs 14%). A pioneering population
in line with the demands of societal change: naturalness and comfort,
local and renewable resources, bio-sourced innovation and durability!
*In order to make an inventory of the European flax industry’s strengths, CELC turned to the expertise of BVA and BIO by Deloitte to undertake a unique investigation. The BAROMETER OF EUROPEAN
FLAX 2015 provides, and puts into perspective, socio-economic, technical and environmental information about the different stages of
the life of flax: its cultivation, its transformation and its consumption
BVA and Bio by Deloitte have joined forces
to respond to the demands of the European
Confederation of Flax and Hemp to carry
out the BAROMETER OF EUROPEAN FLAX
2015. This approach is in line with collaborations in the area of sustainable development
on behalf of the ADEME (European Week for
Waste Reduction, managing WEEE, impact
of telecommuting, etc.). BVA brings its marketing knowledge to the issue of sustainable
development and BIO by Deloitte its expertise and know-how in documented research
and information analysis.
www.bva.fr
www2.deloitte.com
The European Confederation of Flax
and Hemp (CELC) is the only European
agro-industrial organization bringing
together and federating all the stages
of production and transformation for
flax and hemp. It is the specialized
spokesperson for 10,000 European
enterprises in 14 countries, overseeing
the fibre from plant to finished product.
Founded in 1951, the CELC is a source
of pioneering thought, economic
analysis, industry consultation and
strategic direction.
www.europeanflax.com
THE BAROMETER
OF EUROPEAN
FLAX / LINEN 2015
FLAX, A GREEN AND INNOVATIVE
FIBRE.
A EUROPEAN INDUSTRY COMMITTED
TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM.
KEY INDICATORS &
INFOGRAPHICS
A
report by
&
1
Flax has established itself in the daily life of consumers and businesses.
Beyond its textile applications in fashion, lifestyle and interior decoration, flax
– a European fibre - is utilized as a wellspring of innovation in the areas of design, sports
and leisure, automotives, aeronautics, and so on.
In order to make a 2015 inventory of the flax industry’s strengths, the CELC turned to
the expertise of BVA and BIO by Deloitte who provided, and put in perspective, a host
of socio-economic, technical and environmental information (both quantitative and
qualitative), on the different stages in the life of flax: its cultivation, its transformation,
and its consumption.
The figures presented in this press kit, for the flax industry, and comparisons and
equivalences, are either extracts directly drawn from reports and websites whose
sources are presented at the end of the press kit, or calculated by BIO Deloitte and BVA
through a combination of these same sources.
Beyond the collection of sources, the work of BIO by Deloitte and BVA consisted of ensuring the reliability and transparency of their calculations in order to provide the CELC
usable and rigorous quantitative data.
20 May 2015
2
THE BAROMETER OF
EUROPEAN
FLAX / LINEN 2015
CHAPITER 1
Flax, Uniquely European, is also beneficial for the planet
CHAPITER 2
European flax, a fibre of the future since the beginning
CHAPITER 3
4
16
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European flax, composite performances and market realities
35
Sources by chapiter
38
European flax, a committed fibre for demanding consumers
CHAPITER 4
3
FLAX, UNIQUELY EUROPEAN
DOES THE PLANET GOOD
WORLD
N° 1
FLAX
A FIBRE OF
PROXIMITY
With 81,300 hectares
of fiber flax cultivated
in 2014, Europe is
responsible for 80% of
global production.
Flax is the only plant fibre
originating in Europe!
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5
FLAX, UNIQUELY EUROPEAN
DOES THE PLANET GOOD
FLAX
A BREATH OF AIR
FOR THE PLANET
Every year, the growing
of Flax in Europe
results in the capture of
250,000 tons of CO2
EQUIVALENT TO THE CO2 EMISSIONS GENERATED BY
A RENAULT CLIO CAR DRIVING AROUND THE WORLD
62 000 TIMES
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7
1 LINEN SHIRT BOUGHT
FLAX, UNIQUELY EUROPEAN
DOES THE PLANET GOOD
FLAX
A NATURALLY
FRIENDLY FIBRE
RAINWATER IS ALL
THAT EUROPEAN FLAX
REQUIRES TO GROW
=
0 IRRIGATION
If tomorrow, all French
people bought a linen
shirt instead of a cotton
one, the savings would
be equivalent to the
amount of water drank
by the population of
Paris in a year.
13 1.5L BOTTLES OF WATER SAVED
8
9
FLAX, UNIQUELY EUROPEAN
DOES THE PLANET GOOD
FLAX
NONMOVABLE
JOBS
Flax fibre contributes to
maintaining the economic
and social fabric in rural
areas.
Its cultivation mobilizes
a skilled workforce, five
times greater than that
required for growing
wheat.
10
= 12 000
direct jobs in the
Growing & Scutching
sector of the Flax
industry
11
FLAX, UNIQUELY EUROPEAN
DOES THE PLANET GOOD
# TO KNOW MORE
REQUIREMENTS FOR CULTIVATION
A well-defined territory that requires deep
soil in which silt predominates; a moist
maritime climate where temperatures do
not exceed 25°C on average during the
growing time; rainfall to cover all water
needs naturally.
Haute-Normandie, Basse-Normandie, Picardie, the North/Pas-de-Calais and the
eastern part of the Ile de France are zones
that bring together all these conditions
and represent 99% of the land given over
to the crop in France, all cultivated respecting the environment and biodiversity.
Even if 76% of the Europeans interviewed
in 2014 are unaware of the fact, Europe is
responsible for 80% of global flax production, from a wide swath of land extending
through France, Belgium and the Netherlands, from Caen to Amsterdam.
A “GREEN” FIBRE BY DEFINITION
Water requirements for flax are in the order of 600mm for 100 days of growth, covered by rainfall [400mm], a good reserve
of ground water, and the moisture provided by dew [200mm]. Therefore, zero irrigation and zero defoliant for this ecologically important crop which ticks the boxes
of social, economic and ecological criteria
- the three pillars of Sustainable Development.
And that’s not all! Totally biodegradable,
European flax is all waste-free, with a diversity of destinations beginning from the
very first stage of processing.
Long fibres for fabric, short fibres for paper or felt; seeds and oils for livestock feed,
varnish, linoleum; shives for gardening,
animal bedding, compost, etc. Every part
of the plant is useful and utilized. Flax is
now playing a part in the development of
bio-composites, innovative new applications and real opportunities for the whole
of the European flax industry.
A rotation crop renewed every 7 years,
consuming very little nitrogen, the growing
of flax boosts the structure and biological
activity of the soil thanks to its taproots
which sink to a depth of 1m. Very sensitive
to its immediate environment, flax has a
naturally positive effect on soil, and improves the quality of the following crop by 20
to 30%.
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EUROPEAN FLAX® is the qualitative visa
of premium quality European flax fibre in
all its applications. It preserves, highlights
and safeguards a uniquely European
agriculture and industry, its regional
origins and its inherent non-relocatable
know-how. An ambitious global brand
that is intended to be identifiable by the
final consumer.
The English word “flax” has been
specifically chosen: it translates the
notion of the “linen fibre”, and is more
appropriate than the generic word
“linen” which takes in yarn, the textile in
general and home fabrics. The expression
“all applications” encompasses all the
employed uses and products with a flax
fibre base, as much fashion and home
textiles as high-performance technical
products, such as composite materials.
THE GMO-FREE GUARANTEE
This commitment by the flax industry, the
only European agro-industrial sector, is
certified by the signing of the EUROPEAN
FLAX® Charter.
By managing to conserve 250,000 tons of
CO2 per year, flax is an powerful asset in
the transition to a more solid and low-carbon economy, and a major feature in the
immediate perspective of the European
Sustainable Development Week [30 May /
5 June] and the negotiations of the COP21
[December 2015].
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Flax is currently enjoying pride of place in
the French Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015
where it has attracted a lot of attention!
All these elements commit the flax grower
to place agronomics at the center of his
argument and to question the alternating
and management of temporary crops, physicochemical characteristics and soil management, but also the choice of variety
when it comes to sowing. A skill set that
gives European flax the best productivity
in the world!
FLAX, UNIQUELY EUROPEAN
DOES THE PLANET GOOD
After Poland (2013) and Peru (2014), France will chair the
21st Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the COP21 or
the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. This gathering, at which
195 signatory states are expected (including the EU, a full
member in addition to the 28 states that comprise it), will
take place from November 30 to December 11 at Le Bourget. The major challenge: trying to contain the climate crisis by keeping warming to below 2° Celsius, ideally 1.5 degrees, before 2100.
A NATURALLY SUSTAINABLE FIBRE
Uniquely European, the growing of flax
cannot be moved or easily replicated. The
very special combination of climate and
soil paired with the knowledge of the
flax grower/scutcher and his desire for
continuous innovation is irreplaceable.
Excellence results from the non-replicable
meeting between these geo-climatic
specificities and the inalienable expertise
of the pairing of flax-grower/scutcher: a
fertile union of respect for tradition and
continuous innovation.
The cultivation and the transformation of
flax necessitate a significant and qualified
local workforce (5 times larger than for
wheat) in compliance with the rules of the
International Labour Office.
Guaranteeing zones of permanent and
specialized employment in rural areas that
often suffer from a reduced economic outlook, this agricultural exception boasts an
important social dimension.
An approach adopted in 1951, the year of
the creation of the European Confederation of Flax and Hemp – CELC as a precursor to the Treaty of Rome, the founding
text of Europe.
A little-known agricultural facts: if 87% of
the Europeans interviewed could identify
the plant origins of the flax fibre, 78% were
unaware of how it was grown.
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The growing of flax and hemp has a positive effect on agro-ecosystems and the landscape… and offer a welcome respite for soil quality.
Report by the European Commission, Brussels, 2008
Flax corresponds perfectly with current
patterns of consumption,influenced by
all that is organic and ecological. For flax
is a sustainable fibre: it does not require
irrigation, its processing methods respect
the environment, and it is totally biodegradable. Add to this the fact that flax is
hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and thermoregulatory. It is a hugely modern product, with a profile that sets it apart as a
new-era raw material.
Nelly RODI
FOUNDER, AGENCE NELLY RODI
Three elements have played a vital role in
the history of Hermès: leather, metal and
linen. Linen became the stitch and the
signature of the house. It’s a linen with
multiple qualities: it’s rot-proof and indestructible. And just like some leather, linen
develops a patina, it moves, evolves, lives,
has a soul.
Pascale MUSSARD
Creative Director
PETIT H (HERMES)
Should we see flax as emblematic of Slow
Design? Like Ludwig Van der Rohe, I think
a material is good when it is used wisely,
whether it be natural or artificial. The users
get to rediscover that the production of
this natural fibre and its transformation are
environmentally friendly.
Giulio CAPPELLINI
Creative Director of Poltrona Frau Group
Flax is in line with the ambitions of luxury,
both in terms of sustainable development
as well as creation, in fashion, decoration,
in furniture or «services» (five-star hotels
are increasingly opting for linen sheets for
the pleasure and comfort for their clientele). It is a guarantee of the reputation of
French luxury and art de vivre.
Françoise MONTENAY
President of the Economic Commission
COMITE COLBERT
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
EUROPEAN FLAX
WORLD
CHAMPION
Europe,
N°1 producer with
132,407 tons of long
fibres produced in 2013
+
N°1 exporter with
70% exported to the
international market.
90%
Flax
47%
33%
Champagne
Wine
FRANCE: THE PODIUM OF AGRICULTURAL STARS FOR EXPORT
( VOLUME )
16
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
CONSUMER BRAND LEADERS TRUMPET
THE USE OF EUROPEAN FLAX IN THEIR COLLECTIONS.
FLAX
A STRIKING
SELLING POINT!
Material is the fifth criteria
for purchase when it
comes to women’s
apparel. However,
corresponding to less
than 1% of fibre textiles
sold worldwide, linen has
become an attentiongrabbing selling point!
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
Flax today,
a major agro-resource and a
high-performance fibre for a new
generation of composites.
Flax, the very first textile
developed by mankind!
Flax fibres dating to 36,000 BC
have been discovered in a cave in
the Caucasus.
FLAX, FIBRE OF CIVILIZATION,
FIBRE OF THE FUTURE
36,000 BC
2015
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
2,555 RETURN FLIGHTS
PARIS-NEW YORK PER YEAR
THE FLAX EFFECT,
A MORE
FUEL-EFFICIENT
AIRPLANE
If an aircraft cabin interior
and its service trolleys
had used integrated flax
composites, the result
would be a plane 170 kg
lighter
PARIS
NEW YORK
LEADING TO A SAVING IN KEROSENE
2.1 MILLION LITRES
PER YEAR
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23
EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
REDUCTION IN WEIGHT
-60 Kg
WHICH CORRESPONDS TO
THE AMOUNT OF FUEL NEEDED TO UNDERTAKE
5.7 MILLION RETURN TRIPS
LILLE – MARSEILLE
THE FLAX EFFECT
A LIGHTER CAR
If all the cars sold in
the EU in 2014 had
used flax-reinforced
composites, this would
mean that 462 million
litres of fuel it would be
saved each year
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
FLAX
SPORT WITHOUT
THE SHOCKS
The end of Tennis
Elbow!
With a racket containing
only
15% flax,
the level of shock
absorption is already
reduced by
22%.
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
# TO KNOW MORE
36,000 years ago, humanity discovered a
fibre with an infinite number of uses.
Today, it’s transporting us!
1st plant fibre textile in the history mankind,
flax is a major agro-resource with a level
of eco-innovation that is more than ever a
vector of French excellence on the international stage.
From the first bundles of flax, twisted and
colored with pigments, found in a cave in
Georgia (36,000 BC) to the recent eco-designed surfboards, the high-performance
fibre used is one and the same.
And yet, if 87% of the Europeans interviewed in 2014 can describe flax as an
innovative fibre, 63% are unaware of its
technical applications.
While it may only represent 1% of global
plant fibre textiles, flax has been continually reinvented from its very beginnings and
has accompanied the human race though
all its (r)evolutions.
INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES
Flax remains a primarily textile purchase (60% apparel, 57% home textiles,
41% decoration, 35% bathroom textiles).
It’s chosen for its naturality (67% of Italians), for its lightness and comfort (35% of
French), and its durability (22% of Belgians
and British).
MASTERS OF LINEN® is a registered
trademark and a seal of excellence
representing 100% Made in EUROPE:
the guarantee of European linen
traceability, from field to yarn to fabric.
A reference for industry professionals
and consumers alike.
CLUB MASTERS OF LINEN brings
together certified European textile
enterprises: spinners, weavers and
knitters who have opted for 100%
European traceability and wish to
offer their customerss (brands or
consumers) a high value added
certfication.
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Easy to work with, flax in linen form is
embraced by textile industry professionals:
it takes color easily and blends well with
other fibres.
Outside
of
the
indispensable
wovens, linen knit has built itself a
nice little reputation, taking on all gauges
and folding through the use of new stitches.
Linen piqué, fleece, outdoor and doublefaced linens are just some of the results
from years of research and experimentation by European spinners and knitters.
All committed to the strict criteria surrounding their production and their
supply in order to attract the 61% of
consumers who say they are ready
to pay more for a certified product.
SLOW FASHION - FAST FLAX!
European linen is placing eco-finishes at the heart of new developments:
low-impact reactive dyes, easy-care eco-treatments, enzymatic finishes, GOTS and OEKO-TEX certification. All attractive assets for slow fashion.
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EUROPEAN FLAX
FUTURE FIBRE SINCE FOREVER
EUROPEAN FLAX, A WELLSPRING OF INNOVATION
The fluctuating price of oil and the threat
posed by global warming have revived the
interest in renewable and biodegradable
plant fibres.
Since 1903, no less than 300 patents
have been registered for innovative products with a flax base. While the very first
patent (1903) unsurprisingly concerned
an improvement to the spinning process,
we can more recently note an acceleration involving composite materials with a
renewable raw materials base, for environmental improvements or technical improvements of the finished product, dictated
by the new European standards.
CELC, the authority on flax, champions its
distinctiveness.
FLAX: PRODUCT PERFORMANCE OR MARKET REALITY
What is a composite? Two or more materials that combine their properties and thus
develop new ones.
The incorporation of flax fibres in the latest
generation of composites leads to a significant reduction in weight, while maintaining
the same strength levels, resulting in lowered fuel consumption. A bonus for aerospace or automotive industries concerned
about making energy savings.
For the comfort of the novice as much as
for the needs of the advanced competitor,
the equipment’s lightness and shock absorption capabilities are key assets to ensuring optimum performance.
Flax provides its multidisciplinary advantages to the sport sector. Tennis rackets or
table tennis paddles, touring skis and poles,
surf and paddle boards, kite surfing - the
list goes on. Sport without the shock!
PROVEN MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE:
- Low density (1.45g/cm3 versus 2.55g/cm3 for fibreglass)
- Greater rigidity than fibreglass
- Higher vibration absorption capabilities than carbon and glass fibres
- Thermal insulation higher than that of carbon fibres
- Acoustic insulation higher than that of carbon and glass fibres
- Biodegradability
Flax fibre – with its proven environmental
qualities – boasts mechanical
characteristics equal or superior to
fibreglass; and in our ‘Earth’ range, flax
partners harmoniously with wood and
cork for paddles produced without the
use of varnish. High performance and
naturalness act as selling points for an
ever-increasingly committed consumer!
Benoit TREGUILLY,
Communication Director BIC SPORT
Since 2008, we have used flax to create
some of our tennis rackets: those for both
regular players and intensive players. The
flax we use is produced in Normandy and
is found in the racket’s graphite frames.
The flexibility of this natural fibre provides
maximum comfort to the players. Apart
from tennis rackets, at Décathlon we
also use flax for squash rackets and table
tennis paddles; other Passion Brands at
Décathlon use flax, too, including Wedzè
and Caperlan.
Eric Briet, tennis material Product
Manager at Décathlon, for the ARTENGO
brand
The “Dual” tables were created in a vision
of modern eco-design. They explore the
duality contained in flax fibre: I wanted
to highlight the emotional charge of
this material, a warm and natural fibre,
which refers in its formatting to other
composites of a more technological
appearance.
Noé DUCHAUFOUR LAWRANCE,
Designer
The use of natural fibres is an important
step in the efficient use of resources.
Véronique ANDRIES, Ecodesign Manager
& Network Leader,
ALSTOM Transport/Products & Innovation
If the three sectors driving R&D to date
have been aeronautical, nautical and automotive, it’s in the area of Sports and Leisure
that the applications are really kicking off.
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EUROPEAN FLAX
A COMMITTED CONSUMER
6/10 consumers
declared themselves
ready to pay more for a
product with a certified
European flax origin.
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33
EUROPEAN FLAX,
COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE
& MARKET REALITY
EUROPEAN FLAX
A COMMITTED CONSUMER
Flax is taking its place in the composition of our everyday products in order to
improve the ways in which they are used. Furniture design, the sports and leisure
industry, sailing, construction, home improvements and, next to emerge from
the R&D laboratories, aeronautics and rail. The number of sectors exploiting the
special virtues of flax composites is broad and growing.
SPORTS & LEISURE
IS THE FLAX CONSUMER MORE COMMITTED THAN THE AVERAGE?
This is what the associated study for these
two surveys reveals. As part of its Barometer of Sustainable Commitment, in 2012
BVA implemented an indicator to measure
civic engagement based on 41 sustainable
practices and 33 collaborative practices.
These findings, compiled with the Barometer of Flax Consumption BVA-CELC (2014),
have helped to establish a detailed sketch
of the flax consumer.
Buyers of flax/linen are a reflection of the
product itself. Twice as committed than
the rest of the population (29% vs 14%),
attached to tradition while also resolutely
looking to the future, these enlightened citizens are the torchbearers for a changing
world.
Being more experienced (+35 years /74%
vs 60% for non-buyers), regular purchasers
of flax products are up to speed with new
codes and digital tools.
They pay close attention to labels (61% say
they are ready to pay more for a certified
product), preferring local products (46%
vs 26%), without colorants or additives
(48% vs 20%), and Fairtrade (13% vs 6%).
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They commit every day to helping to
change the system. They are twice as likely
as flax non-buyers to take part in civic
activities: protest marches (25% vs 17%),
online petitions, community-supported
agriculture (25% vs 15%), volunteer organizations (28% vs 20%), social finance (23%
vs 14%), crowdfunding.
They are contributing to the emergence of
a new collaborative society by exchanging
goods and services (22% vs 14 %), or participating in the enrichment of open source
internet content (20% vs 13%), for purposes of circular economy and co-construction.
Finally, they make up a population of active trailblazers in what we might term the
post-oil world and choose flax for its intrinsic qualities which they see as being in
perfect harmony with the requirements of
societal change: natural and comfortable,
local and renewable sources, bio-sourced
trad-innovation, durability.
Mixed with plywood in table tennis paddles, and with carbon or
glass fibres in tennis rackets, flax optimizes shock absorption
and improves handling and play. ARTENGO DECATHLON
From leisure to competitive sport, skis are defiantly advancing
into the realm of eco-design. The ultra-technical result [composites reinforced with flax combined with traditional wood]
optimizes the absorption of vibrations and reduces stress on
muscles and joints. Even the poles include flax fibre, for a level
of sturdiness and strength comparable to carbon fibre.
EARLYBIRD AKONITE KANG, ROSSIGNOL, SALOMON,
WEDZE, MOVEMENT, STOECKLI, FACTION, ICELANTIC,
WHITEDOTS
A mountain biking helmet containing flax fibre offers an excellent level of shock absorption, while the city bicycle helmet
combines lightness and greater ventilation thanks to flax’s elevated capacity for wicking away moisture. . URGE BIKE, EGIDE
Flax composite is a major ally of technical performance. It’s
already behind an eco-designed surfboard and a brand new,
easier to handle, stand up paddle board – all the better when
races can run to 60km! NOTOX, BIC SPORT
Aerodynamics and lightness are the two essential criteria
for a cyclist. Substituting flax for carbon in certain parts of
a bike’s frame* allows for both structural strengthening and
a reduction in vibrations of around 20%*! The result: greater
resistance to breakage, compression and torsion. MUSEEUW
BIKES, INBO
*Depending on the frame part, flax can be substituted for carbon at
between 20% and 80% of the total. Based on a trial carried out during
an 80km race lasting 2hrs 50mins.
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SOUND & MUSIC
The CLARA ukulele and El CAPITAN guitar were produced in
natural fibre composites ‎which provide remarkable ‎acoustic quality, along with lightness and strength. Concert-level
instruments with superb sound quality, robust and easy to
transport. BLACKBIRD
Several awards have highlighted the quality and innovative
nature of the glass/flax membranes used for mass-produced
automobile speakers since 2013: Auto Sound Magazine_Japan,
EISA Award_Europe. The membrane of the 900 Aria speaker
is made from an advanced composite described as being like
a «flax / glass sandwich» which plays a fundamental role in the
membrane’s sound neutrality, offering a more balanced sound,
better dynamics and a more detailed register. FOCAL
WATER SPORT
The fate of the 546,000 French pleasure craft*, most of them
produced using rot-resistant composites, is a pressing question. Integrating flax is a solution towards improving their recyclability. Gwalaz, designed by the skipper Roland Jourdain,
is a 7-meter-long trimaran weighing 520kg, reaching speeds
of up to 16.4 knots. It is composed of 110 kilos of flax fibres, 33
kilos of balsawood and cork, and 285 kilos of resins of which
30% are bio-sourced using molecules drawn from colza. The
flax acts as a structural reinforcement material, substituting
fibreglass.
Two semi-rigid boats, eco-designed through the combination
of a hard composite shell and an inflatable float were awarded the Prix JEC Innovation Award 2013 in the Sports and Leisure category. The AirEthic is a mass-produced boat while the
Z-Concept is a “concept boat” integrating all aspects of ecological impact reduction: recyclable thermoplastic materials,
eco-sourced materials, clean processes and an electric motor.
ZODIAC
* *According to the French Nautical Industries Federation, the average
age of the 546,000 pleasure boats currently in use is 23 years, with
their retirement expected by the time they reach their 30th birthdays.
DESIGN
EVERYDAY
ACCESSORIES
The intrinsic qualities of flax fibres - torsion resistance, lightness,
flexibility of the material, pleasant to touch, biodegradability
– is driving the increased interest of designers who use them
primarily as structural parts. These pioneers enthusiastically
create complex forms in flax composites whose fibres generally show on the surface of the finished product to heighten the
aesthetic effect: chairs, armchairs, tables, lights, desks.
FRANCOIS AZAMBOURG, JM MASSAUD, NOE DUCHAUFOUR
LAUWRANCE POUR SAINT LUC EDITIONS, STARCK POUR
MAGIS, M DESIGN AZ&MUT
Visible flax fibres give products an undeniable extra aesthetic dimension. Several products in our daily lives stand out as
a result of this display of naturality.
Lightweight glasses in a flax composite that combines strength and impermeability. CUSTOM6
A suitcase rendered shockproof thanks to the technical capabilities of flax [composite 50% flax/polyamide thermoplastic
resin]. DELSEY
AUTOMOTIVE
Environmental and regulatory pressures are forcing advertisers to establish increasingly selective specifications for their
equipment. Objective: to reduce emissions of CO2 and lessen
their vehicle’s environmental impact. One of these solutions:
putting lighter materials at the forefront, particularly flax composites. In a car, flax can be found in door panels and parts,
the roof, the seat shell back, the rear shelf, the dashboard, the
interior panels and the base of the trunk. DAIMLER (SMART),
CITROËN, JAGUAR, MERCEDES, OPEL, PEUGEOT
36
A notepad serving as a case for a reader or a tablet, and protected from shocks and temperature fluctuations, using a technique
involving a needled flax/recycled polypropylene mat, affixed
and stitched to a hydroentangled/viscose interior. TAPEGEAR
A 100% Made in France cot bed in flax composite, shielding
the baby from intrusive noise while integrating into the fabric
of the family through an optimized design for portable use. A
philosophical and technical revolution! BBDOR
37
SOURCES
PAGES 4 - 5 _ Sources :
_CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp
_C.I.P.A.LIN
PAGES 6 - 7 _Sources :
_ CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp & C.I.P.A.LIN
_ A. Le Duigou, P. Davies, and C. Baley, 2011, Environmental Impact
Analysis of the Production of Flax Fibres to be Used as Composite
Material Reinforcement in Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy
Vol. 5, 1–13
PAGES 22 - 23 _Sources :
_ EcoTechnilin
_ Fimalin & Zodiac Aerospace
_ MEDDE
_ Air France
PAGES 24 - 25 _Sources :
_ EcoTechnilin
_ ADEME
_ Technical characteristics of the Renault Clio
_ Comité des Constructeurs Français d’Automobiles
_ Faurecia Interior Systems
_ Technical characteristics of the Renault Clio
PAGES 8 - 9 _Sources :
_Bio Intelligence Service, 2007, Analyse de cycle de vie comparée
d’une chemise en lin et d’une chemise en coton (Comparable analysis
of the life cycle of a linen and a cotton shirt)
_ INSEE
_ CNRS
PAGE 26 - 27 _Sources :
PAGES 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 _ Sources :
_CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp
_AGPL
_C.I.P.A.LIN
PAGES 28 - 29 - 32 - 33 _Sources :
_ BVA study “Connaissance et évaluation du lin 2014” – A study carried
out on 4,037 representative members of the population aged from 18
years in 4 European countries: France, Italy, Belgium and the United
Kingdom. Online questioning in March 2014 using the quota method.
PAGES 16 - 17 _Sources :
_CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp
_C.I.P.A.LIN
_Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne
_FranceAgriMer
PAGE 34 _Combination of two sources:
_ BVA study “Connaissance et évaluation du lin 2014” – A study carried
out on 4,037 representative members of the population aged from 18
years in 4 European countries: France, Italy, Belgium and the United
Kingdom. Online questioning in March 2014 using the quota method.
PAGES 18 - 19 _Sources :
_ CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp
_CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp
_C.I.P.A.LIN
_ ARTENGO
_ BVA study “Baromètre de l’engagement durable des citoyens 2014” –
A study carried out on 1,000 representative members of the population
aged from 18 years. Online questioning in March 2014 using the quota
method.
PAGES 35 - 36 - 37 _Sources :
_ CELC - European Confederation of Flax and Hemp
38
39
CELC —
CONFÉDÉRATION
EUROPÉENNE DU LIN
ET DU CHANVRE
Marie-Emmanuelle BELZUNG,
Director
mebelzung@mastersoflinen.com
Press Officies
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BTOB
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T : +33 (0) 6 07 25 15 52
Alain CAMILLERI,
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alain.camilleri@mastersoflinen.com
BTOC
14 SEPTEMBRE
Marie José Rousset
Julie PARISET,
Projet,
Responsable Pole Technique
julie.pariset@mastersoflinen.com
Stéphanie Morlat
Marie DEMAEGDT
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Responsable Pole Textile
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40
About CELC —
The European Confederation of
Linen and Hemp (CELC) is the
only European agro-industrial
organization bringing together
and federating all the stages of
production and transformation for
flax and hemp. It is the specialized
spokesperson for 10,000 European
companies of 14 countries,
overseeing the fibre’s development
from plant to finished product.
Founded in 1951, the CELC is a
source of pioneering thought,
economic analysis, industry
consultation and strategic
direction.