The 60th edition of JEC World highlighted an impressive number of initiatives in favour of flax and hemp fibres. These materials stand out for their unique performance and aesthetic qualities. They are now being propelled into a new market reality, reaching a wide range of sectors within the composites industry — from automotive to design, including lifestyle.
At the recent JEC World 2025 trade fair, the Alliance represented the European flax-linen and hemp industries alongside companies such as Bcomp, Demgy, Depestele, Eco-Technilin, Emanuel Lang Composites, Flipts en Dobbels, Libeco, Norafin, Safilin, and Terre de Lin.
For the first time, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale SRL also joined the group to showcase a wide range of raw materials and composite products derived from flax and hemp.
During the event, the Alliance presented its unified approach to fibre traceability certification, thereby reinforcing its commitment to competitiveness and sustainability in technical applications.
Automotive and mobility manufacturers are increasingly incorporating flax-linen and hemp-based materials into their production model ranges—not just in prototype studies.
This shift is driven not only by regulatory changes urging them to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles, but also by the considerable progress made by manufacturers in natural fibres and composites to deliver viable automotive solutions.
Bcomp has been particularly active in the field of vehicle interior equipment, introducing series production seats, complete interior trim sets, and several new interior concepts over the past year.
A flagship element of this work is the development of a “plug-and-play” software tool for designers and engineers. Customising the interior has become a key focus for automotive equipment manufacturers seeking to grow their market share.
It is therefore vital to be ready to adapt the look and feel of a natural fibre-based visual component.
Bcomp now offers internally developed software that allows client designers to view textures, patterns, and colours in high fidelity, realistically visualising how trim elements will appear. This reduces development time while ensuring technical feasibility.
The software features full colour options, trims available in a wide range of Pantone® shades, a selection of standard and bespoke weave patterns, and Bcomp’s versatile ampliTex™ PP solution. All of this integrates seamlessly with existing production equipment and back-injection moulding processes.
Bcomp’s ampliTex™ PP technology has been used in the Cupra Born VZ electric vehicle.
A collaboration between Bcomp and Sabelt has led to the creation of the first bucket seats made entirely from natural fibres within the Cupra range.
By replacing seat backings traditionally made from carbon and glass fibres, the new Sabelt product leverages the benefits of Bcomp’s high-performance ampliTex™ material and reduces CO₂ emissions by 49% compared to the hybrid version.
Greenlander, in partnership with investor and flax specialist Depestele, has received tremendous interest in the Sherpa—a 4x4 camper van designed to minimise environmental impact during travel.The Sherpa combines plant-based fibres such as flax with bio-based resins and sustainable materials like cork, wood, and recycled PET foam to create durable, lightweight components.
Greenboats sold out the Sherpa’s launch edition within just three months and is now ramping up production to meet market demand.To illustrate the potential scale of flax and hemp integration into the automotive sector, Tier-1 automotive supplier Novares—whose products are found in one in three cars—has partnered with Terre de Lin and Natureplast to develop flax-based structural parts.
Novares already uses significant quantities of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled raw materials. The company now aims to take the next step by integrating plant-based flax and hemp solutions to meet the stringent demands of the automotive industry.
Novares will use flax fibres and 2D textiles to manufacture 3D parts, which will be overmoulded with plastic and delivered ready for automotive assembly lines.
While performance, quality, and exceptional aesthetics will continue to be the key criteria in automotive markets, it is clear that flax and other natural fibres are gaining ground in specific applications.
The Alliance for European Flax and Hemp will continue to support its members and automotive manufacturers by ensuring traceability and delivering high-quality updates in response to industry requirements.
By supporting the value chain within the European Union, the Alliance fosters a favourable environment for its members through strategic actions and business tools.
At the heart of this approach is the Masters of FLAX FIBRE™ standard—an open-source, verified certification that guarantees the traceability and unique expertise across the entire European flax value chain.
By connecting the world’s largest flax-producing region—the European Union, which accounts for three-quarters of global production—the Alliance helps the flax industry expand in terms of both surface area and production volume.
It also promotes data accessibility, sustainable processing, and impact assessment tools to meet regulatory demands and adapt to market developments.
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