We adopt the analytical framework of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In this way, we aim to develop a business model and create products that are ethical and sustainable, respectful of the environment and the people who inhabit it.
NATURAL PLANT FIBRES
Today they account for 40% of textile fibers used worldwide, but synthetic and artificial fibers still prevail, with their dominant 60%. Plant-based fibers obtained from seeds (cotton), stems (hemp and linen), leaves (sisal or banana), or bark (coconut husk) of trees and plants all share a fundamental component: cellulose. However, for them to be considered truly natural, the entire supply chain must meet ecological and ethical standards that respect the environment, human labor, the land, and end consumers.
Cotton. Transformed into cellulose, it is the most widely used natural fiber in the world and the undisputed protagonist of the global textile industry. Its qualities—such as softness, breathability, and durability, among others—make it the natural fiber of excellence for all types of clothing and home textiles. Organic cotton is eco-friendly provided it is processed sustainably, without the use of chemical additives or water waste, and without resorting to the exploitation of workers.
Nut fibres. A lignocellulosic fibre, coconut fibre is obtained from the material that surrounds the coconut. It is a hard fibre due to high levels of lignin, a natural polymer. More durable but less flexible than cotton, it is used to make upholstery for furniture and mattresses and to make brushes and ropes. These short, rough fibres surrounding the coconut are used to produce ropes, mattresses, brushes, geotextiles and car seats.
Obtained from the outermost layers, which encircle the plant between the bark and the vessel elements, these fibres contain slightly lignified cellulose and are obtained by macerating the woody part of the plant.
Flax. A plant fibre known for its strength, flax was one of the first materials to be harvested, spun and woven. Used to manufacture banknotes and cigarettes, flax is also used for building insulation and as a geotextile to protect against erosion.
Hemp. The most widely sold textile for the production of clothing, ropes and paper. Hemp is extremely durable and is therefore increasingly used to manufacture building materials and bioplastics for the automotive industry. If processed like cotton, it could also be increasingly used for high-quality clothing. Hemp cultivation has a very low environmental impact and requires no pesticides or chemical additives.
Iute. Obtained by processing the stems of plants in the genus Corchorus capsularis and C. olitorius, jute is a highly durable natural fibre. It is the most widely used natural fibre after cotton. Mainly used to produce sacks, it provides sustenance for millions of small-scale farmers.
Ramia o ramié. Originally from eastern Asia, ramie is obtained from the bark of Boehmeria nivea, a nettle-like plant from China, where it has been used for thousands of years to manufacture twine, threads and a fabric called Chinese linen. Ramie is a white yarn with a silky and very durable appearance whose absorbency and density are reminiscent of linen.
Sisal or agave fibre Obtained from Agave sisalana, a succulent adapted to hot climates that also grows in arid regions, it is known for its roughness and stiffness. Sisal is therefore unsuitable for clothing production, but it can be used as a replacement for asbestos and fibreglass in many composite materials and in construction, where it is employed as a fire retardant and insulator. It is also used to produce carpets.
Raffia. A fibre obtained from the palm of the same name, raffia is very strong and durable and is thus used for ropes and for accessories such as belts, chairs and containers. It is highly flame-retardant and is therefore also used in construction as a fireproof and insulating coating.
Banana fibre. As early as the 13th century, banana skins were being boiled and processed to obtain a very soft fibre that was highly sought-after and widely used in Japan to produce traditional kimonos. Banana skins are still used to this day to obtain a kind of paper, albeit through a different industrial process.
Abaca. Extracted from the leaves of the abaca plant (Musa textilis), a banana variety native to the Philippines. These leaves can measure up to 3 metres in length. Very resistant to breakage, abaca fibre was once used to produce ropes for boats. Today it is used to make tea bags, artificial sausage casings, banknote paper, cigarette paper, and high-quality headed paper. Applications for the fibre are currently being sought in the automotive industry.
Natural fibers to know
To make eco-friendly clothing, eucalyptus fiber is obtained from the leaves of the eucalyptus
Bamboo is proving to be an inexhaustible source of raw material for a wide range of uses. The bamboo fibre obtained from it is completely non-toxic, antibacterial and biodegradable.
Better known by the name ‘hibiscus’, the plant is used for a wide variety of applications in addition to producing the textile of the same name, obtained from its fibre.
Obtained from the capsules that contain the seeds of the kapok tree, native to India, Java, Africa and South America. The capsules are opened by hand and shelled. The fibre is light, rustproof and absorbent. It is used to pad life jackets and cushions, and in China to make clothes, bed linen and packaging, or mixed with cotton to produce linings.
A real innovation in the world of plant textiles, Lenpur is obtained from the branches of silver fir trees and is renowned for the softness and the breathable and deodorant properties of its fibre.
