The Many Benefits of Organic Linen Bedding—for You and the Planet

Organic linen bedding is all pleasure and no guilt-it's both gorgeously comfortable and fundamentally ecological. Isn't it nice when you don't have to compromise?

It is made from the long fibers of the flax plant, which native habitat is the so-called flax belt that runs through Belgium, France, and The Netherlands. The highest quality linen in the world is grown in this region, and because flax is naturally suited to the climate there, it is incredibly eco-friendly to produce.

Let's take a closer look at why European flax linen has become so popular among consumers who demand both the highest quality and the best for our planet.

THE ULTIMATE IN COMFORT

If you've ever tucked yourself in with a flax linen duvet cover, you'll probably never go back to cotton. What makes European flax linen so special?

• It's thermoregulating: Flax is a hollow fiber which allows it to breathe. This gives it the ability to thermoregulate, keeping you cool in the summer and cozy in the winter.

• It's soft and gets ever softer: Garment washed European quality linen naturally feels supple and soft. And since the pectin that binds the fibers gradually dissolves when in contact with water, the fabric becomes even softer with every wash-without losing its trademark strength.
• It's hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial: Linen is naturally hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial. This makes flax linen a great choice for sensitive skin.
• It's absorbent and dry: Linen can absorb up to 20% of its own weight in water without feeling damp. And because it absorbs and transports moisture rapidly, linen keeps your skin dry (and you comfortable) throughout the night.
• It gives you peace of mind: The Modern Dane linens are Oeko-Tex 100® Class 1 certified-your guarantee that what you sleep in is free from any harmful chemicals.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC AND SAFE

At The Modern Dane, we only use certified GOTS®, OEKO-TEX® and European Flax® linen, which means that every part of the final product has been tested to meet the highest environmental and toxicological standards. When you choose certified European flax linen, you support a uniquely eco-friendly industry, with environmental and ethical benefits that include:

• Zero irrigation: Flax grown in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands requires no irrigation other than natural rain. The annual water savings over cotton farming are estimated at 650 billion cubic meters of water, or roughly the water consumption of a city the size of Atlanta.

• Zero chemicals: The transformation of flax into linen is an entirely mechanical process, performed by highly skilled craftsmen and requiring zero use of chemicals. Rain and sunshine alone soften the stalks as they are laid out on the fields, whereafter the fibers are manually extracted.
• Zero pollution of soil or water: Flax is naturally resistant to pests and requires no pesticide or defoliants and five times less fertilizer than cotton.
• Zero waste: Every part of the flax plant is put to use. Long flax fibers are used for fabric, while short fibers are used for paper or felt; seeds and oils are used to feed livestock as well as for varnish and linoleum; shives are used for gardening, animal bedding, and compost. And flax fiber's total biodegradability means that products made from it can be recycled.
• Zero GMO: Certified European flax is guaranteed to be GMO-free, a commitment signed by all our growers as part of the European Flax Charter.
• CO2 absorption: Flax is a carbon sink that captures carbon dioxide from the air and traps it into the dirt where it can do no harm to the atmosphere. Every year, the growing of flax in Europe captures 330,000 tons of CO2-the emissions equivalent to driving a Renault Clio around the earth 62,000 times.
• A commitment to ethics and transparency: Certified European Flax linen is fully traceable so you know exactly where your bed linens come from, and it employs labor ethically in compliance with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

As if all of this wasn't enough, linen fabric is also easy to care for because it doesn't need ironing and can be machine washed and dried. And as one of the strongest natural plant fibers in the world, it's durable enough that you'll likely be enjoying your bed sheets for years.

If you want to learn more about this fascinating textile, check out our article on how flax is grown and transformed into linen in ten steps.

Ready to switch to linen? Shop our collection of Organic European linen bedding.