CO Data

Bast Fibres: Size of Production

Bast fibres like flax (linen), hemp, jute and ramie derive from the inner fibrous layer of plants. They appeal as natural, low impact fibres but are only around 4.5% of all fibres consumed globally.

Bast fibres refer to fabrics like flax, hemp, jute and ramie – all deriving from plants and in use by humans for thousands of years. These fibres are often thought to be relatively environmentally friendly, although consumption of them is low compared to other textiles.

Bast is the fibrous material found inside plants, specifically the inner bark layer of the plant or tree that is sandwiched between the woody core and the outer layer.1 These long inner fibres must be separated out before b…