Flax (Linum usitatissimum), also known as linseed, is an annual crop with blue or white five-petalled flowers.
Flax is considered the oldest textile fibre, with findings dating back to 36,000 BC.
Europe is the cradle of flax cultivation and the roots of its uses can be found here.
Two-thirds of all flax production still takes place in European countries on around 100,000 hectares (approx. 247,000 acres) of land.

Flax is an undemanding plant and therefore requires little in terms of fertilisation and care. Using only small quantities of fertilisers and pesticides also helps avoid soil and water contamination.
In addition, flax does not require artificial irrigation, making it very different from cotton production which consumes around 7,100 litres of water per kilogram of cotton. If European flax fields were planted with cotton, it would require 650 billion cubic metres of water.
Another wonderful thing about flax is that it creates no waste – every part of the plant can be used. In addition to textiles, flax is also used to make paper and mats. Its seeds are edible and are used for the production of oil. Other products that are made with flax are linoleum, insulation and animal bedding. Flax fibres are also biodegradable and recyclable, giving them a clear advantage over cotton or synthetic fibres.
The ecological footprint of flax is quite impressive: one hectare of flax absorbs 3.7 tonnes of CO2 each year. European flax production helps prevent 342,000 tonnes of CO2 greenhouse gas emissions each year. Plus, 300 tonnes of fuel and 300 tonnes of pesticides are saved each year.
Flax is very environmentally friendly and can justifiably be described as a truly remarkable plant.