Lenzing launches Eco Cycle technology with Veocel brand
March 28, 2019 - Austria
Lenzing has announced the introduction of Eco Cycle technology under its specialty nonwoven brand, Veocel. Eco Cycle technology is a testament to the Veocel brand’s commitment to driving sustainability and circularity in the nonwoven industry. Lenzing is known for responsible production of specialty fibres made from the renewable raw material wood.
The technology involves the upcycling of a substantial proportion of pre-consumer cotton scraps, for example, from garment production, and mixing with sustainably sourced wood pulp, to produce pure new virgin Veocel branded lyocell fibres for nonwoven applications, Lenzing said.
“Since the inception of the Veocel brand, we have been pioneering the development and application of sustainable nonwoven technologies and applications. Eco Cycle technology encompasses our commitment to providing the industry with sustainable raw materials and driving circularity in the nonwoven industry ecosystem. Promoting circular economy will be a key strategy of Lenzing in the long run. Eco Cycle technology will enable us to a bold new step in driving the discussion of circularity of natural botanic materials in the ecosystem,” Jürgen Eizinger, vice president of global business management nonwovens, Lenzing said.
Eco Cycle technology leverages Lenzing’s award-winning efficient closed-loop production process to produce virgin Veocel branded lyocell fibres with upcycled pre-consumer cotton scraps and wood pulp from sustainable sources. The process recovers more than 99 per cent of the solvent and water in a closed loop and repeatedly feeds it back into the production process. This results in extremely low levels of emissions and absence of optical brighteners in the Veocel branded lyocell fibre production.
“Produced using an environmentally friendly and sustainable process, Veocel lyocell fibres are certified clean and safe. With Eco Cycle technology, these fibres for nonwoven applications offer nonwoven roll-good manufacturers a convenient way to contribute to the circular economy without the necessity to engage in mechanical recycling which possibly produce harmful by-products and emissions. This holistic approach enables us to set new benchmarks in circularity,” Eizinger added.
Veocel branded lyocell fibres have been certified bio-based by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Blending Veocel branded lyocell fibres with other fibres adds a greater degree of smoothness and absorbency to nonwoven fabrics, and will significantly improve the liquid absorbency in wet wipes, offering a more convenient way to clean surfaces. (GK)