#Sustainability

2025-05-19

Groundbreaking architectural projects using natural fibres

Paris, May 19 2025 : The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is proud to spotlight a growing wave of innovative architectural and civil engineering applications featuring flax and hemp fibres. As the global construction industry turns toward sustainable solutions, flax and hemp are emerging as high-performance, low-impact alternatives for a new generation of bio-based architecture.

Pioneering Structural Applications

For the first time, flax is stepping beyond interior and insulation use to form key structural elements in buildings. At the forefront of this transformation is the University of Stuttgart’s ITECH Research Pavilion 2024 program in Germany. Two extraordinary lightweight structures have been created using filament-wound flax fibres, demonstrating the material’s strength and design flexibility. The main pavilion, a semi-permanent structure, features 20 flax fibre roof beams, crafted from Terre de Lin’s 100 Tex rovings and industrially processed by HA-CO Carbon GmbH. A second, smaller pavilion incorporates co-wound wood and Safilin’s 200 Tex flax fibres in its columns and roof structure. Both projects highlight coreless robotic winding technologies and deliver striking examples of sustainable construction methods.

Sustainable Façade Innovation

Flax is also proving its value in cladding and façade systems. French manufacturer Temca recently completed 880 lightweight shading panels using Bcomp’s ampliTex™ flax fibre material for the Cité Scolaire Internationale Jacques Chirac business school in Marseille. Designed by renowned architects Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta for Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est, the system uses RTM-moulded ampliTex™ combined with UV-resistant gelcoat and fire-rated resin, providing a nature-inspired, energy-efficient solution with drastically reduced weight and hardware requirements compared to traditional materials. Meanwhile, Dutch composite innovator NPSP continues its work integrating bio-based materials in public infrastructure. In collaboration with Alliance member Procotex and material partner Nabasco, NPSP has delivered striking façades across Europe, including the vibrant green cladding of Amsterdam’s NEMO Science Museum, designed by Renzo Piano. Nabasco® Natural panels offer both design freedom and top fire safety standards, paving the way for bio-based façades in modern urban design.

Civil Engineering and Urban Greening

DEMGY, a leader in recyclable moulded composites, has partnered with green roof experts PLANTIKA to introduce FLAXCOMP® sandwich base panels for rooftop garden modules. Replacing aluminum with perforated flax composites, the solution enhances water drainage and aeration while reducing environmental impact. If successful, the trial may lead to full flax composite construction in future urban greening projects, marking a critical advance toward circular building solutions.

“These projects reflect the growing ambition of our industry to deliver carbon-smart, beautiful, and high-performing structures using natural European fibres,” said Bruno Pech, Innovation Project Manager.

The Alliance for European Flax Linen and Hemp continues to support its members and partners in advancing bio-based innovation across architecture and civil engineering.

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp expands technical capabilities with addition of CIRCULAR STRUCTURES

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is pleased to welcome CIRCULAR STRUCTURES, a Bremen-based platform for sustainable material development and product incubation, to its Technical Section. This addition further enhances the Alliance’s mission to accelerate the industrial adoption of European-grown flax and hemp fibres in high-performance composite applications.

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp host Natural Fibre Composites Village at JEC World 2025

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp will host a Natural Fibre Village at JEC World 2025 that will showcase the activities of the Alliance and nine of its members in a 250m2 area dedicated to natural fibre composites. Partnering with the JEC Group, the Alliance will lead the European flax and hemp industry exhibit where Bcomp, Demgy, Depestele, Eco-Technilin, Flipts en Dobbels, Libeco, Norafin, Safilin and Terre de Lin and, for the first time, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale SRL, will all exhibit a wide range of flax and hemp raw materials and composite products.

VAUDE eliminates PFAS from all products

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now detectable worldwide – in drinking water, soil and the human body. These so-called “forever chemicals” are considered hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic, as they do not break down and remain in the environment permanently. Despite these risks, PFAS are still used in a wide range of products. More than 15 years ago, VAUDE made a strategic decision to gradually eliminate PFAS from all product categories.

OEKO-TEX® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

ICAC to support European Commission on pending PEF legislation

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is proud to announce that it has been included as a member of the European Commission’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB) on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The Commission developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.

Stäubli demonstrates how innovation translates into real benefits for weaving mills at SITEX 2026

One of India’s most prominent textile industry events, SITEX 2026, is held from February 21 to 23 in Surat. Committed to empowering Indian weaving mills with state‑of‑the‑art solutions tailored to regional needs, Stäubli will present a selection of solutions designed for performance, reliability, and power efficiency. Through its weaving preparation, cam and dobby shedding solutions and Jacquard technologies, Stäubli highlights its global expertise tailored to the specific needs of the local market.