What would you wear? A flax shirt or a jute bag?

Remember your answer, this article will change your perspective.

Freshly harvested flax, jute or pina are just stalks or leaves and cannot be used as spinning materials. They need to go through several processes such as retting and scutching to remove impurities and retain the cellulose components. After these processes, bast and leaves in the plant become fibers.

Retting removes most of the impurities, but it does not mean the fiber is completely “CLEAN”. People can easily distinguish the difference between jute and flax by color and touch. Actually, depending on the type of fiber, about 5-30% of NON-CELLULOSE components remain in the scutched fiber after retting, which makes the fibers show different characteristics. Raw materials with a high proportion of cellulose, such as cotton or linen, are softer and light colour. They can be used to spin high-size yarns and will not feel harsh when contact to skin. Raw materials with a high proportion of NON-CELLULOSE components, such as jute, pina or banana fibers, feel rough, are yellow or brown in color, and are not easy to bleach.

Bio degumming technology gives us an opportunity to rethink those fibers that are considered "low-grade" or "non-mainstream". LCB Biochem and BBT Enzyme have developed a Natural Fiber Degumming Solution DG®. By using enzymes, which are tiny but powerful proteins, we can remove NON-CELLULOSE components from various scutched fibers in a targeted manner while protecting fiber structure and strength. After biodegumming, jute, pina or banana fibers can also as soft as cotton. This solution is suitable for pre-spinning treatment of jute, pina fiber, banana fiber, Egyptian flax, kapok and other fibers. It can remove the itchiness caused by the fiber and improve whiteness, spinnability and dyeing effect.