MATERIALS
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What we work with
FIBERS
FLAX
Fine texture, precise workability. Ideal for exposed surfaces with high aesthetic demands — cladding, interior linings, and visible composite elements.
HEMP
High tensile strength, lightweight, bio-based. Primary fiber for structurally loaded elements — facades, shells, and enclosures where performance and sustainability converge.
JUTE
Distinctive surface character. For projects where the material is visible and integral to the architectural concept — acoustic panels, bespoke elements, and cultural spaces.
SISAL
Coarse, high-tensile plant fiber with excellent crack-bridging properties. Used in cement and concrete composites for structural reinforcement — durable, moisture-resistant, and fully biodegradable.
BASALT
Derived from volcanic rock. High thermal resistance, excellent chemical durability, and superior mechanical properties — a bridge between natural origin and technical performance.
GLASS
Versatile, cost-effective, and proven across complex geometries. Frequently used in hybrid composite systems alongside natural fibers to optimize structural behavior.
CARBON
Exceptional stiffness and tensile strength at minimal weight. For components where structural performance is the primary driver — long spans, precision connections, and high-load elements.
ARAMID
Known commercially as Kevlar and Twaron. Exceptional impact resistance and energy absorption at very low weight — used where dynamic loads, vibration, or blast resilience are structural requirements.
MIXED FLAX
Different rovings are bundled into a single multi-tone roving. The color ratio, contrast becomes part of the composite's visual language — structural expression and surface character resolved in a single material decision.
DYED FLAX
HFS has developed a proprietary dyeing process for flax rovings — the result is a structural fibre with a consistent, permanent colour: suitable for exposed composite surfaces where material and finish are one.
Color Samples DYED FLAX
MATRIX
BIO-BASED EPOXY
Epoxy system with partially bio-derived content — reduced fossil feedstock, fully compatible with natural fiber rovings. Preferred where lifecycle impact is part of the project brief.
EPOXY RESIN
High mechanical performance, chemical resistance, and excellent fiber-matrix adhesion across all fiber types — natural, mineral, and technical.
ADDITIVES & COATINGS
Fire retardant additives and UV-stabilisers can be integrated into the matrix system or applied as surface coatings — selected to meet project-specific regulatory and exposure requirements.
HYBRID SYSTEMS
FIBER + TIMBER
Natural fiber composite wound around timber substructure — combining warmth and tactility with engineered structural depth.
FIBER + METAL
Lightweight fiber composites on steel or aluminium frames. Precise connection details for demanding structural and facade applications — combining the strength of metal with the formability of composite systems.
FIBER + CONCRETE
Natural or technical fiber as lost formwork or integral surface element in concrete — structural presence with material expression.
MATERIAL & CLIMATE
Natural fibers carry
a fraction of the carbon.
Every kilogram of structural material has an embodied carbon cost — the CO₂ emitted to extract, process, and manufacture it. Natural and hybrid fiber composites sit at the low end of the scale. With biogenic sequestration included, they can act as a net carbon store.
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MATERIAL
KG CO₂E PER KG — RELATIVE SCALE
VALUE
ALUMINIUM
Primary production
8.2kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
STEEL
Basic oxygen furnace
2.9kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
GLASS FIBER
Standard composite
2.5kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
BASALT
Volcanic mineral fiber
0.8 - 1.2kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
CONCRETE
Standard mix, reinforced
0.36kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
TIMBER
Sawn wood / glulam
0.4kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
NET CARBON STORE
HEMP / FLAX
incl. COâ‚‚ sequestration
-0.5 - 0kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
HEMP / FLAX
HFS natural composite
0.4 - 0.9kg
COâ‚‚e / kg
VS. ALUMINIUM
−94%
Natural fiber composites emit up to 94% less embodied carbon per kilogram compared to primary aluminium — the structural material with the highest climate cost.
VS. STEEL
−80%
Hemp and flax composites generate roughly 80% fewer emissions than conventional structural steel — while remaining competitive in strength-to-weight performance.
LIFECYCLE POTENTIAL
COâ‚‚
sink
When biogenic sequestration is included, natural fiber elements can function as a net carbon store — absorbing more COâ‚‚ during growth than is emitted in production.
Concrete appears low per kilogram — but volumes are enormous. A single cubic meter of reinforced concrete releases 300–400 kg CO₂e. Natural fiber composites replace large structural volumes at a fraction of this footprint, making the total lifecycle impact significantly lower.
Data: ICE Database v3.0, University of Bath — Ben-Alon et al. (2021), LCA of natural vs. conventional assemblies — ScienceDirect, embodied carbon timber vs. steel (2021) — CompositesWorld LCA Review (2024) — Basalt fiber LCA: 0.8–1.2 kg CO₂e/kg per peer-reviewed studies (Azrague et al., 2016; ScienceDirect BFRP LCA, 2025). Values cradle-to-gate unless stated. Sequestration per IPCC guidance on biogenic carbon. Exact figures vary by production method, resin system, and energy mix — HFS recommends project-specific LCA for formal documentation.