CERTIFICATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY

CERTIFICATIONS

Six out of 10 consumers declared themselves ready to pay more for a linen product with certified European origin* 
The flax/linen industry provides the answer: EUROPEAN FLAX® and MASTERS OF LINEN®. The guarantees of Environmental and Social Responsibility, with certified Traceability through the fibre’s global and European value chains.

*The barometer of European flax/ linen 2015 BIO by Deloitte and BVA for CELC

EUROPEAN FLAX®

The guarantee of traceability for premium linen fibre grown in Western Europe. A natural sustainable fibre, cultivated without irrigation* and GMO free. *certified 99.9% by CELC

For all outlets, with each processing and trading steps audited each year by the leading independent certification body [Bureau VERITAS].

In 2020: 320 certified companies, including 220 textile and manufacturing businesses, from 25 countries.

Link to certified companies
How to get European Flax®?

MASTERS OF LINEN®

The guarantee of traceability for linen produced by European companies; a natural, responsible and local textile, at each step from European Flax® fibre, to yarn and fabric.

36 spinners, weavers and knitters in nine European countries committed to support the European industry and to a yearly audit of their sourcing by a legal auditor, or institute (Centexbel-BE or Centrocot-IT).

Produced by European companies, from field to yarn and fabric | Social & Environmental Responsibility | European know-how & jobs | Local, regional agricultural and textile production| Service | Excellence and innovation

Link to Masters of Linen® certified companies
How to join the club Masters of Linen®?

SUSTAINABILITY

EUROPEAN FLAX®, A NATURAL EXCEPTION THAT BENEFITS BOTH THE PLANET AND HUMANKIND: farmers and fibre producers in Western Europe (80% of world’s long fibre flax production) commit to sustainable practices with proven measure of impact.

WATERLESS FIBRE

European Flax® only needs rainwater* and is retted 100% in the field, versus water-retting *certified 99.9% by CELC

Wear a linen shirt for a day = save 13 bottles of water = 19.5 litres = 5.15 gallons

Sources : The barometer of European flax/ linen 2015 BIO by Deloitte and BVA for CELC | Eco-profile of a linen shirt, by Bio Intelligence Service for CELC, 2007

LIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

Measured by the Life Cycle assessment and Eco-profile of the Linen Shirt 2007; the Higg MSI score of European Flax® fibre 2020.

NEW: LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF EUROPEAN FLAX® SCUTCHED FIBRE ACCORDING TO PEF METHOD (Product Environmental Footprint of the European commission).LCA by Yukan for CELC + critical review by Maki Consulting, 2021.

Eco-profile

RESPECT FOR SOIL AND ECO-SYSTEMS

Sustainable farming practices that respect soil and water: rotated crop grown on any given plot of land every six or seven years; low fertiliser use; low pesticide use and no defoliant.

A CARBON SINK

Every year, European Flax® cultivation captures 250,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent to the CO2 emissions generated by: a RENAULT CLIO car driving around the world 62,000 times… or driving 3,231 roundtrips from Shanghai to the Moon!

Sources: The barometer of European flax/ linen 2015

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

European Flax® fibre is grown and produced in Europe by a local, skilled workforce, compyling with the rules of the International Labour Organization, requiring up to five times as much labour as cereal farming, it supports employment in rural areas. When textile production is performed by European companies, under the Masters of Linen® seal of excellence, it preserves and enhances local skills and expertise, fostering the relocalisation of mills and jobs.

NO WASTE FIBRE

Fibre extraction is 100% mechanical, using no chemicals and generates no waste as 100% of the plant’s components are used (long fibre, short fibre, shive, seed and dust).

Source: Envrionmental Footprint of European Flax® scutched fibre 2021

NO GMOS

Fibre flax varieties grown in Europe are subject to regulations of the E.U. member states, today, no GMO variety is registered. For the future, all European Flax® fibre producers commited to NOT grow GMO fibre flax, and signed this commitment in the European Flax® Charter.

BIODEGRADABLE

The flax fibre is biodegradable, experiments of composting linen fabric or garment in soil show decomposition over weeks and months. For projects considering composting, dyes and treatments should be chosen accordingly.