Nordic Fibres: Local Diversity and new Possibilities

Cover photo: Olga Angove

The report Nordic Fibres: Local Diversity and new Possibilities, Final report on the project NorNa - Nordic Natural Fibres in Circular Economy has been published in has been published in Novia's Publications and Productions, series: Reports 1/2026 in February 2026.

Introduction

Welcome to the final report of the project NorNa – Nordic Natural Fibres in Circular Economy! Here you can find a description of project activities and our findings on the current situation of the natural fibres sector in the Nordic countries. With natural fibres we mean fibres extracted from plants or sourced from animal hair. We focus mainly on flax, hemp, nettle and sheep wool, because these are possible to produce in the Nordic countries - and are produced in varying quantities.

Why do we want to promote fibres that have been used for thousands of years, when there are modern man-made fibres available? One answer is because natural fibres have unique qualities readily available – no need for extensive chemical processes, in other words. These qualities are, for example, breathability, fire-resistance (for wool), durability, resistance to dirt and microbes, and a beautiful shine. Another reason is that they do not emit microplastics. Third, all these fibres are connected to agriculture, and can in an ideal case support food production and profitability of the whole sector. Including hemp or flax in the crop rotation can improve soil health and structure and increase farm scale diversity. Nettle can be cultivated on plots not suitable for grain production and give an additional income. As it is a perennial plant, the need for tilling and other machine work in the fields decreases compared to annual crops. Wool is generated as a by-product of meat production and using it instead of throwing it away is reasonable from a circular economy perspective. A viable Nordic sheep industry supports biodiversity through grazing, and genetic diversity through preservation of native breeds. When the whole supply chain works, from farm to product, local economies are strengthened. Local economies and Nordic collaboration are especially important in times of global instability.

In addition to that, some fibre crops can be produced on rewetted peatlands, as Professor Kristiina Lång from the natural Resources Institute pointed out at NorNa:s seminar in Turku in 2025. Rewetting results in a large reduction in greenhouse gases per hectare (10-30 t CO2e/ha). Some of the crops that thrive in wetlands are Cattail, Peat moss, Common reed, Reed canary grass and Willow. The biomass from the plants can be used, for example, as construction materials or for making paper. This would also lessen the pressure on our forests. Despite digitalization, paper and wood use is still increasing, which endangers forest carbon sinks. Before the 19th century, paper was made from rags and other plant fibres. When humans noticed that wasps process wood into paper, wood pulp quickly outcompeted other materials. There are also many other initiatives to replace fossil materials with bio-based materials, where fibres from agricultural production could play a role instead of forest biomass.

In short, natural fibres are not a simple miracle solution to everything, but developing the supply chain in small steps could help support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, farm profitability, and lessen the environmental impact of the textile industry, which is one of the most unsustainable industries in the world. Textiles made from natural fibres are durable and last for years, compared to fast fashion garments that are only meant to be used a few times. There is also potential for replacing other polluting materials, such as plastic and peat, with natural fibres.

Information about the publication

Ulrika Dahlberg, Chanika Jayawardana & Samica Sadik, Yrkeshögskolan
Novia Nordic Fibres: Local Diversity and new Possibilities, Final report on the project NorNa - Nordic Natural Fibres in Circular Economy

Yrkeshögskolan Novia, Wolffskavägen 31, 65200 Vasa, Finland
© Yrkeshögskolan Novia och Dahlberg, Jayawardana & Sadik

Pärmbild: Olga Angove

Novia Publikation och produktion, serie R: Rapporter 1/2026
ISBN: 978-952-7526-69-9 (Online) ISSN: 1799-4179

CC BY 4.0