(Cellulose is a carbohydrate found in the walls of plant cells that help them stay upright. What does this have to do with fashion? For starters, cellulose is the core structure from which plant-based materials like cotton, hemp, linen, and jute are derived. But it’s also responsible for man-made cellulosic fibres that are growing in sustainable demand.
Man-made cellulosic fibresMan-made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) are most commonly derived from wood pulp and hold the third-largest market share in the global textile industry after polyester and cotton. Viscose, lyocell, modal, cupro, and acetate are some of the most commonly known forms of man-made cellulosic fibres. The demand for these fibres has doubled in the last 30 years and is expected to increase further.
When made from sustainably certified sources, these fibres have great potential from an environmentally-friendly perspective as they would help step away from oil-derived synthetics and reduce the stress on freshwater resources through reduced cotton cultivation. But what makes them such a worthy replacement for ubiquitous synthetics and cotton? Listed below are some of the most sustainable man-made cellulosic fibres that we also use for our range of sustainable clothes for women and men;
Viscose, also known as Rayon, is a regenerated cellulose fibre that’s regarded as the third most commonly used textile in the world. A low-cost fabric alternative to silk, the viscose does not have the best reputation for how it is produced. Much of the conventional viscose in the market today is manufactured using a ton of energy, water, and chemically intensive processes that have devastating impacts on workers, local communities, and our environment.
This is where LENZING™ certified EcoVero™ Viscose comes in as the sustainable alternative. This eco-responsible fabric made from renewable and sustainable wood pulp comes from certified and controlled sources that are either Forest Stewardship Council or Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes certified in Europe.
The manufacturing of LENZING™ EcoVero™ fiber manufacturing involves recovering and reusing all of the chemicals used in production that result in up to 50% lower emissions and water use than generic viscose. EcoVero™ Viscose is also completely biodegradable, making it an environmentally sound choice for your clothes.
TENCEL™, a trademarked name for LENZING™ produced material, and in general, this wood-pulp fibre is known as lyocell. These fibres have gained a sustainable reputation for their environmentally responsible closed-loop production process, transforming wood pulp into cellulosic fibres with high resource efficiency and low impact. The resulting sustainable textile is firm, soft to the touch, gentle on the skin, effective at absorbing moisture, and crease-free.
TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibres are very versatile and can be combined with a wide range of other fibres such as wool, cotton, and silk to enhance the look. At times, lyocell can be mixed with synthetic fibres like acrylic and polyester used in activewear for added functionality and durability. When blended with other fibres, lyocell fibres significantly improve fabric softness and enhance the overall comfort.
Salvia Trousers
3. TENCEL™ DenimPerhaps the most commonly found item in every wardrobe, denims are a fashion industry staple that’s lesser known for its negative impact on the environment. Creating a single pair of denim jeans consumes a whopping 9,500 litres of water — right from growing raw cotton to the finished product. Not to mention the fact that attaining its signature indigo blue hue involves using large quantities of petroleum. Enter, TENCEL™ Denim which uses its sustainably certified lyocell fibres blended with cotton to create eco-friendly denim.
Produced using innovative technology with low amounts of water, TENCEL™ Denim is also completely biodegradable owing to the manufacturing process that allows it to eventually return to nature, reducing the amount of textile waste that ends up in a landfill. Breathable, soft, and wrinkle-resistant, you can be at peace knowing TENCEL™ branded denim is eco-responsible and has a low carbon footprint.
The sustainable bonus? All LENZING™ man-made cellulosic fibres are certified biodegradable in natural and industrial environments like the soil, compost, and marine water. However, if you plan on popping these fibres in the compost, know that they can only be composted if they are:
-
Treated with little to no chemicals or no metal components
-
Not printed with PVC inks,
-
Made using 100% cotton threads and preferably meet the Cradle to Cradle Certified® standard.
To know more about compostability and its requirements, read our informative blogs on:
Published by: Vibhuti Vazirani/ 2021-06-08