Is Linen Toxin Free?

Living toxin free is key, from the foods we eat to the bedding we sleep on. See how we transform the all-natural flax plant into bedding that's ultra safe, even for babies.

Is Flax Truly All-Natural?

Yes! The flax plant (linum usitatissimum), from which linen is made, grows in the fields of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The plants grow to around 3 to 4 feet in height and bloom in June with beautiful blue-purple flowers. Shortly after flowering, they are ready to harvest and are pulled from the ground (rather than cut) to preserve the length of the stalks. They then lie in the field for a few weeks, during which the outer layers of the flax stalk decay away to leave the strong inner layer, or bast, from which linen fibers are made. This process is known as retting.

Why is European Linen Better?

Certified European Flax refers to flax grown in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, known as the “flax belt” of Europe. This region has a temperate, oceanic climate and loamy soil, meaning that flax flourishes without the need for any toxic fertilizers or pesticides.

All flax farmers in this area must sign the European Flax charter, committing to zero artificial irrigation, zero genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and zero waste. In addition, fiber scutching (the process by which long and short linen fibers are separated) must be done mechanically rather than chemically.

You’ll know whether the bedding you’re buying is made from European Flax by looking for the European Flax certification on the label. All of The Modern Dane’s European bedding carries this certification and is made from flax grown organically in the European flax belt. It’s then sent to the Portuguese town of Guimaraes to be woven into our Scandinavian-style sheets.

Does Linen Have to be Organic?

Not all linen is equal—or, indeed, natural. Although the flax plant itself is natural, linen producers from outside the flax belt—for example, in other parts of Europe or in China—will add chemicals to increase yield, meaning that the plant will absorb toxins over time.

Chemicals used in the cultivation of non-organic flax include nitrate fertilizers, which contaminate streams and harm plants, birds, and fish. Nitrate fertilizer seeping into groundwater can cause “blue baby syndrome”—a condition where a baby’s skin turns blue from lack of oxygen in the blood.

Although flax typically needs less pesticides than cotton, unless your linen is certified organic by GOTS (more on that below), there’s no guarantee that it’s free from chemical pesticides. A commonly used chemical pesticide is glyphosate, described by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as “probably carcinogenic.” Another is deltamethrin, an insecticide that can cause tremors, dermatitis, and vomiting in humans.

In the European flax belt, the weather is sufficiently damp that retting can take place using just dew and rainwater, without resorting to chemicals. Outside of this region, however, manufacturers may use chemical retting to speed up the process. One chemical used for retting is oxalic acid, a highly toxic substance that can cause severe burns and ulcers if it comes into contact with human skin.

Even once the linen has been woven, more toxic chemicals may be added. Softeners used to finish the linen may contain alkylphenols, which have been associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Plus, chemical softeners may interfere with the natural beneficial properties of linen. At The Modern Dane, we don’t use chemical softeners; instead, we garment-wash our organic linen duvet covers using enzymes. This breaks down the natural compounds that make linen stiff and scratchy, so that it arrives at your home feeling soft and with all its natural properties intact.

The Health Benefits of Organic European Linen Bedding

Without interference from toxic chemicals, organic European linen has many health benefits. It’s hypoallergenic, naturally durable, and won’t pill like cotton, meaning that it’ll remain comfortable for several years. Linen is also thermoregulating, meaning that it keeps you cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. This is thanks to the many thousands of natural pores along the linen fiber—pores which are blocked when linen is treated with chemical softeners.

How GOTS and OEKO-TEX Certification Can Help You to Buy Toxin-Free Linen

Marketing is full of misinformation and misdirection: listing products as “natural” to make you think they’re organic or using green packaging to make you believe that something is environmentally friendly. The only way to truly know whether something is safe, toxin free, and sustainable is to look for certification.

Certifying agencies create their own standards and use their own labs, independent of the brands they’re testing. This makes them a far more reliable indicator than anything listed by a company’s own marketing materials.

OEKO-TEX is a certification system with extremely rigorous standards. They test for banned and regulated substances such as heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, and Azo dyes, but also unregulated harmful chemicals such as pesticides. Every component of the product is tested: not just fabric but zips, buttons, and threads.

There are four classes of OEKO-TEX certification, which apply increasingly strict standards to the products they test. Our organic linen bedding is certified Class 1: the strictest class and the only one deemed safe for babies.

In addition to OEKO-TEX certification, our Scandinavian-style sheets also carry the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This is the gold standard for organic textiles worldwide, specifying that all process chemicals and dyes used must meet their requirements for non-toxicity and biodegradability. Azo dyes, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and discharge printing methods are prohibited, and wet processing units must keep full records of their use of chemicals, water consumption, and wastewater treatment. Chlorine bleaches are also banned—only oxygen bleach is permitted.

At The Modern Dane, we’re proud to say that our organic linen sheets carry European Flax, OEKO-TEX, and GOTS certifications. Without harmful toxins to worry about, you can sleep soundly knowing that your bedding is working to keep you and your loved ones happy and healthy throughout the year.

How safe is your bedding? Would you consider making the switch to organic European sheets? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!