flax shives
The woody, inner core of the flax plant’s stem that is left over after the long fibers are extracted during the processing of flax straw. This by-product, which can make up about 50% of the plant’s weight, is a lignified, non-fibrous material. It is often considered a waste product, but it has numerous uses, such as in the production of chipboards, animal bedding, horticultural mulch, and as a composite material filler. (Kremer, 2025)