Hemptex® hemp or biodegradable CiCLO®
A flag that biodegrades, or a flag with no plastic fibres. Here is how both work, and the test data behind them.
Are biodegradable flags actually biodegradable?
Ours are, and here is the test data. A CiCLO® Better Flag is polyester enhanced with CiCLO®, an additive built into the fibre itself. It doesn't wash out, and it only activates once the fibres reach an environment full of microbes — soil, landfill, seawater or wastewater. Independent laboratories measured how far it goes using the recognised ASTM methods:
biodegradation in natural seawater after ~1,362 days (ASTM D6691)
biodegradation in soil after ~1,171 days (ASTM D5988)
biodegradation in anaerobic landfill conditions after ~1,278 days (ASTM D5511)
biodegradation in wastewater sludge after ~952 days (ASTM D5210)
Two things that does not mean. A biodegradable flag will not fall apart while it flies — a CiCLO® Better Flag wears like a conventional polyester one, because the additive only does anything where microbes are, and how long a flag lasts depends on wind, sun and how often it flies. And CiCLO®-enhanced polyester is still polyester, a plastic: depending on the cloth, made from recycled PET or from new polyester. For a flag with no plastic fibres, choose Hemptex® hemp.
And the flag with no plastic fibres
Hemptex® is the world's first flag textile made of hemp: 55% hemp, 45% cotton, so there is nothing to biodegrade away: no polyester, no additive, no plastic fibres. It is made of natural fibres; the print and the seams are part of the flag too, and the finished flag has not been tested for biodegradation.
The hemp is ethically sourced from smallholder farmers in Uttarakhand, India, and woven into a dense textile; the finished flag weighs 150 g/m². Every Hemptex® flag is printed double-sided in the Netherlands, with pigment inks, by Hollanders Printing Solutions. The result is a flag that prints matte and holds its colours in the fibre. Every Better Flag, custom or ready-to-buy, is available in Hemptex®.
Our Commitment
Microplastic pollution is one of the defining challenges of our time and we refuse to accept its persistence. Better Flags uses groundbreaking fabric technology and the oldest textile fibre in the world to directly address this issue, setting a new standard for the sustainable flag industry.
Our Supply Chain
Building a responsible flag supply chain meant partnering with licensed CiCLO® fabric makers and with the farmers who grow our hemp, with full traceability from fibre to finish.
Sourcing
Every CiCLO® Better Flag begins with the fibre. CiCLO®, a patented additive, is built into the polyester when it is spun, so the fibre can break down under real-world conditions. Depending on the cloth, that polyester is made from recycled PET or from new polyester.
CiCLO: A Revolutionary Fiber Treatment
All CiCLO® materials used in Better Flags are OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certified and verified non-toxic to marine and plant ecosystems. The chemistry is embedded directly into the fiber without added coatings or finishes.
Hemp from the foot of the Himalayas
Every Hemptex® flag begins in Uttarakhand, India, where smallholder farming families grow hemp the way they have for generations. We source there deliberately: it keeps a traditional crop alive, supports rural communities and gives young people a reason to stay. The fibre is woven into a dense textile (the finished flag weighs 150 g/m²) before it travels to the printer in the Netherlands.
Printing
Hemptex® flags are printed in the Netherlands by Hollanders Printing Solutions, pioneers in sustainable textile printing. Hemp is printed double-sided with pigment inks; this method minimises water use, avoids toxic dyes and produces vibrant, long-lasting colours. Where a CiCLO® flag is made depends on its production route.
Production: per route
Where a flag is made depends on its production route. Hemptex® flags are printed in the Netherlands; for a custom flag, the configurator shows where it is made before you order.
Environmental Impact
Each purchase contributes to a cleaner future by reducing microplastic pollution, supporting fair work, and advancing responsible textile innovation.
min biodegradationreached by CiCLO® fabrics.
of ocean microplastics come from synthetic textiles
hemp in a Hemptex® flag. 45% cotton, no polyester, no plastic fibres.
This is how you make a difference
Not all flags are created equal. See how choosing CiCLO®-enhanced polyester or natural Hemptex® hemp helps cut microplastic pollution and sets a new sustainability standard.
Standard Polyester Flags
Sheds plastic microfibres while it flies
Made from virgin, petroleum-based polyester
Persists for decades after disposal
Better Flags with CiCLO®
Performs like traditional polyester; the CiCLO® polyester is engineered to biodegrade.
Polyester enhanced with CiCLO® technology
Certified by OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT for safe chemistry
Better Flags with Hemptex®
55% hemp, 45% cotton, no polyester, no plastic fibres. The premium flag.
Hemp textile: 55% hemp, 45% cotton, no plastic fibres
A traditional crop, ethically sourced from smallholder farmers
Printed double-sided with pigment inks
1% for the Planet. 100% for Positive Change.
As proud members of 1% for the Planet, we donate a portion of every sale to environmental causes — ensuring our commitment to sustainability goes beyond materials.
Built to Last
From the hemp grown in India to the finished flag, every stage of production is transparent and documented, for CiCLO® and Hemptex® alike; a custom flag shows its production route before you order.
Sustainable and Traceable
CiCLO®-enhanced polyester from licensed CiCLO® fabric makers. Hemptex® hemp ethically sourced from smallholder farmers in Uttarakhand, India.
Two Materials
CiCLO® polyester is engineered to biodegrade: CiCLO® polyester biodegraded 90 to 94% in independent ASTM lab tests, after 952 to 1,362 days. Hemptex® flags are made of natural fibres: 55% hemp, 45% cotton, no plastic fibres.
Awarded & Certified
Better Flags materials meet global standards for environmental responsibility. CiCLO® carries OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification; Hemptex® is 55% hemp, 45% cotton, no polyester.
