Project Flower to develop composites from plant fibres

Project Name: Flax composites, LOW weight, End of life and Recycling
Acronym: FLOWER
Duration: 01/2018 - 04/2022 (51 months)
Total budget: €4,631,250
ERDF: € 3,129,672

Led by the Université de Bretagne Sud (University of Southern Brittany) Project Flower will develop new biocomposite materials made from plant fibres for use in the automotive, advertising and yachting industries.

Composite materials used in these industries typically use glass fibres as reinforcements which are costly and have a high environmental impact.

Project Flower will substitute glass fibres for plant fibre reinforcements made from locally sourced flax fibres, a crop more commonly associated with making linen. The finished product will have a recyclable element, helping to lower the environmental impact compared to other composites.

The project will demonstrate the types of products that can be made with the linseed composites by creating a range of products including a prototype vehicle roof panel and a high performance hydrofoil sailboat.

The results of the project will be shared with over 200 composite manufacturers in the Channel area to encourage the use and take up of the developed biocomposites.

The project brings together 8 French and UK partners including the University of Southern Britanny, Howa Tramico, University of Cambridge, Teillage Vandecandelaère, Kairos, University of Portsmouth, EcoTechnilin, and the Institut National pour la Recherche Agronomique (INRA).