Lenzing launches ecological fiber

TENCEL® fabric made from sustainable forest wood raw material has received the EU award for the most eco-friendly production process, 99.7 percent closed loop circulation in the production and use of bio-energy. The Lenzing Group, Lenzing, Austria, manufacturer of TENCEL, is taking another step toward ‘circular economy’ solutions for the textile industry with the introduction of a new TENCEL fiber made on a commercial scale with both wood and cotton waste fabrics. “Developing circular business models in the fashion industry ensures the decoupling of business growth from pressure on ecological resource consumption,” says Robert van de Kerkhof, CCO of Lenzing. The new product will be offered exclusively to leading retailers and brands that could engage the right partners in devising the most sustainable process. A new identification procedure for the TENCEL-cotton fiber assures retailers that the TENCEL in the garment is the most eco-friendly fiber they can use.