
About the project
Natural resources such as plants, animal hair, and minerals serve as the primary source of natural fibers. Throughout history, people have used these fibers to create clothing, shelter, and various essentials. Known for their strength, renewability, and biodegradability, natural fibers are often considered more environmentally friendly than synthetic alternatives due to their non-petroleum origin.Natural fibres have a long rich history, being among the earliest materials used for textile and rope production. Natural fibers offer numerous advantages as a renewable resource, while also being readily biodegradable. These eco-friendly and versatile fibers find applications in various sectors like clothing, craft yarns, home textiles, construction materials and composites.
The project NorNa is spreading information about a diverse range of natural fibers such as flax, nettle, hemp, linen, and wool, mostly through articles, seminars, and other events. Also, landrace grains with high straw yield as well as natural grasslands and grazing are within the project’s area of interest. NorNa aims to promote biodiversity in agricultural settings, diversify the farm production and bolster agricultural resilience against adverse weather conditions and rising input costs in the Uusimaa region in Finland. By establishing a versatile network, the project wishes to stimulate domestic natural fiber production, processing, and sales across various industries including textiles, gardening, and construction.
Project goal
- Increase diversity on the farms in Uusimaa- Increase resilience against extreme weather conditions and rising input costs in agriculture
- Increase knowledge about production, processing and sales of natural fibres
- Impact on areas outside agricultural production that are at risk of regrowth, being used as natural pastures
-Create awareness of local food and fiber production chains in Western Uusimaa.
-Increase knowledge of alternatives to peat as bedding and growing media
-Create networks to increase the production, processing and sales of domestic natural fiber in various sectors (textiles, gardening, construction, etc.)
UN's Sustainable Development Goals



Ulrika Dahlberg
Project Leader