prosjekt
Nordic Flax Future
Startdato:
1. juni 2025
Sluttdato:
31. des. 2026
Nordic Flax Futures – A Nordic Collaboration
This Nordic collaboration explores what it will take to revive and strengthen flax and linen production across the region — from today’s small-scale initiatives to resilient, scalable value chains. Flax and linen production spans a complex system, from cultivation and processing to spinning, design, and textile manufacturing. Rebuilding this system requires renewed knowledge, shared expertise, and coordinated efforts across multiple sectors.
The project brings together actors from agriculture, education, craft, design, research, and industry to build a strong cross-border network that supports collaboration along the entire value chain. By mapping current practices and identifying gaps in skills, infrastructure, and resources, the project aims to create a clearer pathway for scaling up sustainable flax production in the Nordic context.
Through the exchange of experiences from different regions, the initiative fosters learning, innovation, and long-term cooperation. It strengthens connections between growers, educators, craftspeople, designers, and businesses, creating a shared foundation for future development.
Project results will be shared widely through reports, digital platforms, and public events. The overall goal is to generate knowledge, inspire engagement, and lay the groundwork for a sustainable and vibrant Nordic flax and linen industry — rooted in tradition, yet responsive to contemporary environmental and social demands.
Project Partners and Their Contributions
1. Muuvgo Oy / Linen Stories (Finland)
A private company based in Helsinki with two main activities: consultancy services and the Linen Stories project, which works to reintroduce flax cultivation and processing in Finland.
Contributions:
Project coordination and overall project management
Expertise in flax cultivation and processing
Extensive network within natural fibers, including the Fibershed network
2. Dansk Fibershed (Denmark)
Part of the international Fibershed network, focusing on regional value chains for natural fibers.
Contributions:
Network building and knowledge sharing
Connecting stakeholders across agriculture, education, and industry
Leading dissemination of project results to policymakers
Contact: Niels Windfeld Lund
3. NordGen – Nordic Genetic Resource Center
Responsible for preserving Nordic seed accessions, including 436 flax accessions.
Contributions:
Providing information and seed material of Nordic flax varieties
Sharing expertise from previous flax evaluation projects
4. University of Borås / Science Park Borås (Sweden)
A national center for textile education and research. Science Park Borås leads innovation projects focused on circularity.
Contributions:
Expertise in textile processes and circular economy
Mapping research on retting processes and developing circular business models related to flax
5. Cultural Administration, Västra Götaland Region (Sweden)
Working with cultural heritage, sustainability, and craft traditions.
Contributions:
Sharing experience from flax-related initiatives, particularly the “1 Square Meter of Flax” project
Providing organizational support and access to networks for project activities
6. Kalø Organic Agricultural College (Denmark)
Educating the next generation of organic farmers.
Contributions:
Establishing experimental flax cultivation plots (1–2 hectares)
Gathering hands-on cultivation knowledge and sharing insights through events
3. Fibershed Norway (Norway)
A non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening local textile production.
Contributions:
Building networks between key stakeholders
Organizing workshops and knowledge-sharing activities
Active engagement with stakeholders and decision-makers
7. Fibershed Finland ry (Finland)
A non-profit association promoting local textile production using regenerative natural fibers.
Contributions:
Network building and dissemination of project results
Reintroducing flax aligns closely with the organization’s mission and activities
