prosjekt
Nordic Flax Future
Startdato:
Sluttdato:
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
Finland
Muuvgo Oy / Linen Stories
About
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
Denmark
Dansk Fibershed
About
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
Nordics
NordGen – Nordic Genetic Resource Center
About
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
Sweden
University of Borås / Science Park Borås
About
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
Sweden
Cultural Administration, Västra Götaland Region
About
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
Denmark
Kalø Organic Agricultural College
About
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
Norway
Fibershed Norway
About
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
Finland
Fibershed Finland
About
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
Denmark
KLOTHING
About
KLOTHING (Centre for Apparel, Textiles & Ecology Research, at the Royal Danish Academy — Architecture, Design, Conservation)'s purpose is to contribute to the sustainable development of the clothing and textiles sector, based on specific Danish design traditions and conditions.
Contributions
Expertise in design and circular economy
Mapping and developing circular business models related to flax
Funding: This project is funded by Nordplus Horizontal.
