Eco Essentials: Comparing Organic Linen With Tencel, Bamboo, and Hemp Bedding

Discover how organic linen stacks up against other natural bedding materials when it comes to comfort, performance, environmental impact, and lifespan.

An Overview of Natural Materials

Organic Linen

Organic linen is made from flax: a tall, thin plant with purplish-blue flowers, grown in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In this region, the conditions are perfect for flax to grow naturally, without artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or irrigation. Linen is a bast fiber, meaning that it has been made from the phloem, or inner bark, of the plant. The phloem has pores that transport sugars produced during photosynthesis to other parts of the plant; when this is made into linen, these same pores make linen breathable, thermoregulating, and moisture-wicking. At The Modern Dane, all of our Scandinavian-style bedding is made from organic European linen, as we believe it to have the highest ethical and environmental credentials—a belief backed up by independent testers such as OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and the Made-By Benchmark (find out more about textile certification in our dedicated blog). In addition, organic linen bedding is highly rated for comfort, performance, and durability.

Tencel (Lyocell)

Tencel is a brand name owned by the Austrian company Lenzing AG. It comprises two products: Tencel Lyocell and Tencel Modal. But when used in everyday conversation, “Tencel” usually refers to Tencel Lyocell; we’ll be using “Tencel” to refer to lyocell throughout. Tencel is a cellulosic fiber made from wood pulp, most commonly eucalyptus trees. The pulp is dissolved in a chemical solvent, then the mixture is squeezed through a device called a spinneret to form fibers which are then spun into yarn. The finished fabric is soft, hypoallergenic, and good for sensitive skin. Tencel is sourced from responsibly managed forests and uses considerably less water and energy than cotton—but more than top-tier sustainable fabrics like organic linen.

Bamboo

Like organic linen and Tencel, bamboo has natural origins. It’s fast-growing and needs no fertilizer or pesticides. Bamboo fabric is highly breathable, stretchy, and strong, making it a popular choice for underwear and socks as well as bedding. But look closer, and it turns out that despite being a natural material, it may not be as sustainable as the branding would have you believe. Most bamboo is grown in China, where industries are notoriously opaque; there’s no way to know for certain whether chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been used. Regardless, it’s the manufacturing process that is truly problematic. Most “bamboo” fabric is bamboo rayon (also known as bamboo viscose), made through the viscose process: it’s dissolved in toxic chemicals which, as well as posing a risk to health, wipes out most of the benefits that the fabric might otherwise have had. Another bamboo fabric, bamboo lyocell, is made using a similar process to Tencel and is much better for the environment, but harder to find.

Hemp

Hemp is made from the stems of cannabis plants, which have been selectively bred to contain only trace amounts of THC—so don’t worry, you won’t get high from your bedding! Due to this association, hemp has long had a negative reputation—but that’s fast changing as hemp’s benefits become clear. Like organic linen, jute, and ramie, hemp is a bast fiber; it’s strong, insulating, and often used in industrial settings for ropes and sacking. It’s great for carbon capture; one hectare of cannabis plants sequesters 8 to 15 tons of CO2. That being said, it’s not without its problems, with industrial fertilizers and process chemicals often used during production. If buying hemp, therefore, look for organic products that carry GOTS and OEKO-TEX certification.

Natural Materials Compared

Comfort

Both bamboo and Tencel sheets feel soft, silky, and smooth against the skin; additionally, Tencel has an innate coolness that will appeal to hot sleepers. Organic linen and hemp, on the other hand, can be stiff and rough if not treated properly, with hemp being slightly rougher than linen. This is partly due to the presence of pectin and lignin, two compounds that give the plants’ stems their characteristic strength. These compounds are sustainably removed during production, resulting in a softer feel while preserving the fabric’s strength and durability. At the Modern Dane, we garment-wash our organic linen bedding using enzymes, to make sure they’re smooth and soft right out of the box.

Performance

All four fabrics are known for their breathability; all would be an excellent choice for hot sleepers. They’re moisture-wicking, too, so you’ll stay dry and cool all night. Where hemp and linen stand out, however, is thermoregulation. As bast fibers, each strand has thousands of tiny pores along its length; these help heat and moisture to escape but also trap warm air when it’s cool, providing excellent insulation. Linen and hemp, therefore, are year-round fabrics; you won’t have to switch your bedding with the seasons.

Environmental Impact

We’ve already given a quick overview of each fabric’s sustainability credentials, but exploring the full picture would require far more detail than we can cover here. Thankfully, that in-depth work has already been done. The Made-By Environmental Benchmark for Fibres ranks textiles based on five criteria—greenhouse gas emissions, human toxicity, ecotoxicity, energy, water, and land—and assigns them a class from A to E, with A being the highest. Organic linen and organic hemp both received the highest A rating, while Tencel Lyocell and bamboo lyocell received a B rating and bamboo viscose received an E rating.

Lifespan

Out of the four fabrics, hemp has the longest lifespan—there’s a reason why it’s so popular for industrial uses. However, that durability comes with a trade-off, as it’s the coarsest of the fabrics and thus not ideal for bedding. Second to hemp, linen offers a good balance of comfort and durability; it can last for years if properly cared for. Tencel and bamboo are both moderately durable, resist pilling, and stay smooth for a long time.

Which Bedding Should You Choose?

Except for bamboo rayon, any of these bedding textiles would be a significant improvement on conventional cotton. However, when compared to each other, organic linen and organic hemp emerge as clear winners. Organic linen, in particular, has a slight edge overall thanks to its lower environmental impact, natural softness, and ease of care. Which one you decide depends on whether you value comfort (organic linen) or durability (organic hemp) more.

For a complete set of sustainable, irresistibly soft bedding, explore our organic linen duvet covers, sheets, and pillowcases—we have solid-color and printed options, certified by GOTS and OEKO-TEX to ensure the highest standards of ethics, safety, and sustainability.

Which of these natural materials have you tried, either as clothing or bedding? How do you think they stack up? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter!