Natural cosmetics company Naturamus has teamed up with the German Institutes of Textile and Fibre Research Denkendorf (DITF), the University of Hohenheim to grow suitable lavender varieties in the Swabian Alps in Germany and devise eco-friendly ways to extract essential oil from them. Research is also underway for developing ways to recycle large quantities of residual materials to produce composite fibres and textiles.

The essential oil extraction process results in a lot of residual waste that is often not utilised. Lavender stalk can be used to produce fibres for textiles. The DITF is currently researching on this renewable raw material. “We are curious to see how high the yield of fibres will be and what properties these fibres will have,” said DITF scientist Jamal Sarsour.

“The length, fineness as well as the strength of the fibre bundles determine the possible uses. Fine fibres are suitable for clothing, coarser fibre bundles for technical applications,” said project manager Thomas Stegmaier.

The initiative will not just add to the region’s value and tap into the ethically produced textiles market, but also give rise to a new source for technical textiles. Fibre composites, which are crucial for lightweight construction, can be produced by renewable natural fibres. Lavender residues could prove to be a valuable natural resource for technical textile production.

Natural cosmetics and essential oils sourced from the Swabian Alps are in great demand across the world. However, local lavender production is not as developed as it should be. Eco-friendly cultivation of lavender will help drive organic farming in Germany and reduce transport costs. The University of Hohenheim is experimenting with five different varieties of lavender at four locations, such as Sonnenhof near Bad Boll, according to a press release by DITF. The preliminary results of the research are expected by the end of the year.