University of Michigan Biologist Melissa Duhaime Explores Flax as a Sustainable Alternative to Plastics
University of Michigan biologist Melissa Duhaime is shifting her research focus to flax as a sustainable, plastics-free alternative. After years of documenting plastic waste in the Great Lakes, Duhaime is exploring how flax can be spun into linen for clothing, replacing synthetic fabrics that shed plastic fibers, and used as a substitute for petroleum-based carbon fiber in automobiles and construction. She is part of a growing movement of researchers, activists, and policymakers seeking to curb plastic pollution. Duhaime, who also co-owns Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill in Wisconsin, aims to restore flax production in the state, with support from the Wisconsin Farmers Union and University of Wisconsin researchers. This initiative seeks to create a new manufacturing sector for flax fibers, spinning, weaving, and product development.
