The Lenzing Group, known globally as a forerunner in specialty fibers and environmental initiatives, has unveiled two groundbreaking endeavors aimed at solidifying its leadership in these domains.
To begin with, Lenzing is amplifying the application of its avant-garde Refibra technology to its Ecovero viscose fibers, a move that seeks to heighten the content of post-consumer textile waste within the material. Concurrently, they have transformed a production hub located in Purwakarta, Indonesia, reorienting its focus to supply specialty viscose fibers tailored for both wovens and non-wovens.
The reimagined Indonesian facility, having undergone a substantial €100 million ($109 million) investment over the preceding two years, is now primed to cater to the escalating global appetite for specialty viscose. This transition also promises a notable diminishment in emissions.
The strategy to broaden the scope of Refibra technology to the Ecovero viscose fibers was debuted at the renowned Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Textile Fair and Trade Show. Through this expansion, Lenzing, a luminary in the wood-based specialty fiber industry, is ambitiously aiming to echo the triumph of its Tencel Lyocell fibers, edging closer to actualizing a fully circular textile paradigm.
Currently, Ecovero and Refibra technology boast a commendable 20% recycled raw content sourced from post-consumer waste. With a vision to elevate this figure, Lenzing taps into cellulose-rich materials or sophisticated polyester cotton blends, curated by the recycling industry's frontrunners. Moreover, the traceability and transparency of both offerings extend across their entire supply chain, as affirmed by Lenzing.
In discussing the company's latest strides, Florian Heubrandner, Lenzing’s Executive Vice President of Global Textiles, emphasized their global commitment to a circular economy. He remarked, “Our newest initiatives allow progressive fabric mills, garment producers, and consumer brands to join Lenzing on this revolutionary path.” Heubrandner continued, underscoring the rejuvenation of post-consumer textile waste and the centrality of circularity in the textile sector's value proposition.
With aspirations to secure the esteemed EU Ecolabel for the products emerging from the revamped Purwakarta site, Lenzing aims to augment its existing list of endorsed products, including Ecovero for woven materials and Veocel for non-wovens.
These fresh undertakings only enhance Lenzing's eco-conscious credentials. Merely a month ago, the group clinched the platinum honor in the EcoVadis CSR evaluation for the third consecutive time. This accolade, a testament to their prowess in areas like environment, equitable work conditions, human rights, and sustainable procurement, positions Lenzing within the elite 1% echelon of the 100,000 evaluated enterprises.
Phil
