More and more of us becoming aware of the impacts our purchases may have on the environment. As far as our homes go, there are some items which are essential, and bedding falls into this category for the vast majority of us. It's also an essential item that doubles as decor and completely transforms the look and feel of our bedrooms. Thankfully, not only is linen one of these most luxurious and stylish fabrics, it's also one of the most eco-friendly. 

When it comes to sustainable consumer choices, there are a lot of factors to consider. From being biodegradable to standing the test of time, here are six of the biggest reasons why linen is a better bedding choice to make for the sake of the environment.  

6 Biggest Environmental Benefits of Linen

1. It uses less water

Flax is a strong material is resilient and can grow in poor soil. Flax grows naturally and requires no additional water other than rainwater. This means it uses significantly less water during production than cotton or polyester. This is important to the health of the environment because it means less water is diverted from rivers, bays, and estuaries. 

2. Linen is biodegradable 

As it is made from a natural fibre, linen is 100% biodegradable, meaning it won't rot in landfill and won’t negatively impact the environment, even after it has come to the end of its useful life. The whole flax plant is used in production, leaving no waste. Pure natural linen can start to decompose in just two weeks.

3. We use eco-friendly dyestuff 

As with any natural material you should be careful about how the fabric might have been treated, particularly the environmental impact of some dyes. At Bed Threads we exclusively use eco-friendly dyestuff across the entire range which means our linen won't leach into the soil upon disposal.

4. Bed Threads is OEKO-TEX 100 certified 

That means no nasty chemicals in your Threads. When a fabric is awarded a Standard 100 certification it means that it has been tested by OEKO-TEX for harmful substances such as formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol, nickel and more, and declared safe for human use.

Because we have been officially certified by OEKO-TEX, you can be confident that every single thread, button and fibre in our 100% French Flax Linen and 100% Mongolian Cashmere has been tested for over 100 harmful chemicals and substances.

5. Linen doesn't need to be replaced as often

Quality linen can last decades with proper care. In fact, in many parts of Europe, it is tradition for families to inherit linen sheets from their parents. That's because while cotton starts to show signs of wear after three to five years, linen is coming into its prime after a couple years of use.

The reason it can outlast cotton is due to the cellulose fibres found in flax linen–they're slightly longer and wrapped tighter, which enhances their strength and longevity. Provided your Threads are cared for correctly, there's no reason why they can't be a future heirloom, too. Linen is also naturally moth resistant so you won't need to worry about them destroying your beautiful fabric in storage.

6. Bed Threads is 100% carbon neutral

Bed Threads is proudly 100% carbon neutral. We measure, reduce, and offset greenhouse gas emissions where possible, doing our bit to protect and conserve the environment. Whenever you shop with us, you can also rest assured that our packaging is proudly eco-friendly.

Want more? Here are 12 Sustainability Terms to Understand for a More Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle