Definition
Shives are the lignified stem fragments generated during the processing (retting and breaking) of bast fiber plants such as flax (linen) or hemp. They consist of the pith and cortex tissue of the plant stem and are not spinnable, as they lack sufficient fiber length, tensile strength, or flexibility. Shives accumulate as a by-product of scutching and hackling in large quantities and thus represent an unavoidable residual material of bast fiber processing.
Use in the textile industry
In the textile industry itself, shives have no direct application, as they are classified as non-spinnable material. However, they are used as insulation material in the construction sector (e.g., in hemp-lime mixtures), as animal bedding, and as a raw material for the production of particle board and fiberboard. In addition, shives serve as a fuel source for combustion or as a feedstock for the production of pulp and paper.
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