A Saskatoon-based businessman has developed a new use for flax straw.
The company uses polymers from the hardy straw to make telephone cases.
The cases’ composition is 10 per cent flax, 25 per cent recycled material, 55 per cent non-renewable resources.
Inventor Jeremy Lang says the cases are compostable.
The composite material used is call Flaxstic, a play on the word plastic.
Flax producers find flax straw residue difficult to handle as it clogs seeders and cultivators.
Current methods of flax straw disposal include animal bedding, firm corral base for fed cattle, bales for insulation, shelter belt mulch or just burning the straw in the field.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
