The
Lenzing Group has announced the expansion of carbon-zero TENCEL branded fibers
to REFIBRA technology to address the growing industry demand around “circular
fashion†and carbon neutrality. The first carbon-zero TENCEL branded lyocell
and modal fibers, which launched last year, have continued to gain momentum
among industry partners including fashion brands and mills. Available since
September 2021, the expansion aims to provide more innovative solutions for
fashion brands to meet carbon reduction targets and consumers to enjoy
sustainable products, reinforcing Lenzing’s commitment to achieving net-zero
CO2 emissions by 2050.
The
expansion demonstrates Lenzing’s solid commitment to building a truly
sustainable textile industry, not only through the reduction of carbon
footprint, but also via increased circularity through the REFIBRA technology.
This pioneering technology involves upcycling cotton scraps from garment
production and transforming them into cotton pulp. The cotton pulp is then
added to sustainably sourced wood pulp to produce virgin TENCEL Lyocell fibers.
This innovation reinforces Lenzing’s ongoing effort to the Science Based
Targets (SBT) initiative and support of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals to limit global warming.
“Although
more supply chain partners, brands, and retailers are proactively searching for
ways to reduce carbon emissions to align with the United Nation’s global
climate goals, the textile industry still has a long journey ahead to reach its
goal of carbon-zero status. We hope that, by sharing our latest innovations
such as the carbon-zero TENCEL branded fibers with REFIBRA technology, we can
make carbon-zero initiatives mainstream practices, ultimately achieving a
carbon neutral textile industry,†said Florian Heubrandner, Vice President
Global Textiles Business at Lenzing AG.
Joining
forces with brand and mill partners
JACK
& JONES, an international leading denim brand and a long-time partner of
Lenzing, has been championing sustainability with its low-environmental impact
products. This is echoed in the brand’s latest range of jeans that incorporates
38% of carbon-zero TENCEL Lyocell fibers, offering high environmental value and
benefits of silky smoothness, enhanced breathability, greater strength and
being gentle on the skin.
“The
JACK & JONES team is delighted to partner with TENCEL to bring to life more
sustainable products that are also comfortable and of high quality, showcasing
our unwavering commitment to enhancing sustainability in the fashion world,â€Â
said Mikkel Hochrein Albrektsen, Creative Buying Manager of JACK & JONES.
Additionally,
Lenzing is expanding collaboration with fashion brands across the globe to
integrate carbon-zero TENCEL fibers in their latest collections. From leading
Chinese lingerie brand, Aimer, Chinese premium home textile brand, Luolai,
German fashion label, ARMEDANGELS, Danish clothing label, Selected FEMME,
Korean fashion brand Cozynet, Portuguese premium fabric producer and intimate
brand, IMPETUS to US-based home furnishings retailer, West Elm, companies
across the fashion and home segments are actively reviewing their raw material
usage to go carbon-zero. Through a “reduce-engage-offset†approach, Lenzing is
also working closely with supply chain partners such as Al Karam, Calik, Samil
and WTS to innovate raw material usage and technologies to bring new
sustainable fiber types to the textile market.
“As
a textile producer, it is our responsibility to enhance sustainability in the
textile industry. We are proud to collaborate with Lenzing and offer
eco-friendly products which uses carbon-zero TENCEL fibers, thus contributing
to the well-being and protection of our planet,†said Luis Antonio Aspillaga,
CEO of WTS (World Textile Sourcing).
By
offering carbon-zero TENCEL fibers with REFIBRA technology, Lenzing provides
the industry more sustainable material options right from the beginning of the
product life cycle, bringing Lenzing one step closer to its goal of reaching
zero carbon emissions by 2050. Moving forward, Lenzing will continue to work
with industry partners to reduce the product’s carbon footprint and offset
unavoidable emissions to ultimately drive decarbonization in the textile
industry.