Fibres

Different sources. Different properties. Different routes to market.

Hemp

Bast fibre + shiv

Hemp produces long and short fibre around a woody inner core known as shiv. That gives it several possible material routes from one crop.

Where it may fit: construction, insulation, technical fibre, non-wovens and composites.

What matters: harvesting, retting, decortication, cleaning and consistent grades.

Growing hemp in Ireland?

Hemp cultivation currently requires a controlled-drug licence. Our short guide points to the current HPRA process, the EU Common Catalogue requirement and the latest DAFM evidence.

Read the hemp licence guide →

See hemp fibre processing in practice.

Flax

Bast fibre

Flax links Ireland’s linen history with modern technical textile and composite applications.

Where it may fit: linen, technical textiles, non-wovens, insulation and composites.

What matters: retting, scutching and dependable fibre preparation.

See flax fibre in practice.

Wool

Animal fibre

Wool is already produced across Ireland. The opportunity is to find more useful outlets for the properties of different grades.

Where it may fit: insulation, acoustics, felt, non-wovens and composites.

What matters: processing, repeatable specifications and routes that create value for lower grades.

See wool processing in practice.

Willow

Woody fibre

Willow is a woody feedstock rather than a bast fibre. It has material uses alongside familiar biomass applications.

Where it may fit: fibreboard, panels, cellulose, composites and biochar.

What matters: finding higher-value material routes that justify processing and logistics.

See willow as a practical fibre resource.

Nettle

Bast fibre

Nettle has a long European fibre history, but modern Irish processing is still at an early stage.

Where it may fit: textiles, blends, technical fibre and composites.

What matters: reliable cultivation or collection, retting and fibre separation.

See nettle fibre in practice.

Natural is not a performance claim.

A material still has to work. Moisture, fire, strength, durability, cost, manufacturing compatibility and end-of-life all matter depending on the product.