Sustainability drives innovation
[ESRS 2 MDR-A]
Sustainability acts as a guiding principle for innovation and product development. Every process, product or application innovation is evaluated for sustainability from the very beginning. Key considerations include the life cycle perspective and the net-benefit principle over the entire value chain, which are implemented in the project management processes used by the company.
Fine and coarse hydrophobic lyocell fibers
The nonwovens business of Lenzing successfully continued its development approach in 2024 to offering alternatives to synthetic fibers, supporting the industry’s transition to 100 percent cellulose solutions. Lenzing expanded its range of fibers that mimic some performance characteristics of synthetic fibers, such as strength and hydrophobicity. The introduction of fine (1.3 decitex (dtex)) and coarse (6.3 dtex) hydrophobic lyocell fibers increases the design possibilities for 100 percent cellulose products, as the fiber titer has a significant influence on the final product properties.
The fiber family of hydrophobic lyocell allows the intensified use of cellulose fibers in absorbent hygiene products. These fibers retain important properties such as compostability under home and industrial conditions and biodegradability in soil, while offering new liquid management capabilities. They offer an alternative to traditional synthetic fibers in these applications. In addition, the new cellulose fibers provide increased softness, which will benefit future product developments in skin contact applications such as hygiene products or wipes.
Waterless dyeing technology for regenerated cellulose fibers
In 2024, the Lenzing Group partnered with technology start-up Exponent Envirotech to introduce ECOHUES™, a waterless dyeing technology for regenerated cellulose fibers. Through the collaboration with Lenzing, ECOHUES™ will be applied to TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers as well as LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded viscose fibers for the first time. The innovative waterless dyeing technology is characterized by a recyclable, non-aqueous solvent that reduces water and dye usage by 95 percent and 40 percent1 respectively.
Partnership for new environmentally friendly shoe materials
In the reporting year, Lenzing also partnered with leather alternative expert Recyc Leather and introduced Pélinova®, an innovative material that fuses TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers and recycled leather fibers for high-end fashion applications. Pélinova® is created through a process, that involves collecting pre-consumer recycled leather and hydro-jetting the leather fibers into TENCEL™ lyocell fibers. The combined efforts between Lenzing and Recyc Leather result in a material which is supple, flexible, and durable, with a low environmental impact utilizing less water than traditional methods and reducing GHG-emissions.
1 When compared to conventional water-based dyeing processes.