RietGoed is an experimental material research to develop textiles from the reed cigar plant (bulrush). The first small-scale samples have now been made and we are working on a small scale-up to better investigate the potential of the material. The name RietGoed not only stands for a good product – made of reed -, but also for a product with a good story. About the usefulness off growing wet fiber crops. About combating soil subsidence and reducing CO2 emissions. And about making users aware of the transition to a bio-based and circular economy.
Raw materials
The warp is currently made of European linen. This is different per sample. In the sample you have about 40% linen yarn and 60% reed (sig) yarn. In the workshop we also have a sample in which 90% use is made of reed (si) yarn. The ultimate goal is to go to 100%. However, this is not yet feasible.
Production process
- Harvest
- Extract the fibers
- Preparing fibers for spinning
- Spinning
- Processing into fabric – weaving or knitting.
- The plant grows from April to September/October.
- Currently, harvesting takes place at 1 moment per year. The next step is to investigate whether it is possible to harvest twice a year and what the effect is on the plant and fiber strength.
- Making textiles from plants is not new in itself. However, it is new to do this from a plan that has its feet in the water. That is why Studio i Focus develops its own machines for extracting the fibres. The next step is making the connection to machines for processing flax.
Environmental impact
By conserving the peat area, the already stored CO2 emissions will remain stored in the ground. The amount of stored CO2 depends on the area and the way of planting. In addition, the plant itself also removes CO2 from the air during growth. By keeping the entire process as bio-based as possible, the product can be returned to the fields after its lifespan to enrich the soil. We can only calculate the total CO2 storage/reduction or the total impact on nature when the application and scale become more clear. We will therefore delve into this later.
Growth opportunities
There are plenty of growth opportunities in the Netherlands. The pain points at the moment are in cultivation, because it is a fairly new plant for cultivation. In addition, upscaling and the currently nonexistent chain are challenges. The current need is mainly research into the possibilities and what quality can be achieved.
Contact
www.rietgoed.nl
info@rietgoed.nl
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