Targets
[ESRS E5-3 24, 24a, 24b, 24c, 27, MDR-T 80a]
Lenzing’s Textile Recycling target and Circular Business Model target are closely aligned with the corporate strategy, which aims to promote the circular economy and sustainable material sourcing. These voluntary targets strengthen circular product design and increase the circular material use rate, thereby reducing dependence on virgin raw materials.
[E5-3 24d, 25]
The targets address renewable sourcing, the use of recycled cellulose textile waste and agricultural residues. The targets aim to increase both the share and diversity of alternative feedstocks. These targets primarily relate to the “recycling” tier of the waste hierarchy. In addition, the Circular Business Model target promotes the circular economy concept as an overarching principle that spans over all layers of the waste hierarchy.
[MDR-T 80h]
Södra, a Swedish forestry cooperative producing wood products, pulp and biofuels, played a key role in defining these targets as a cooperative partner. Internally, the Corporate Sustainability department was supported by R&D, the Pulp and Wood Team as well as the Commercial Textiles team in the target setting process.
[MDR-T 80g, 80j]
The process for setting and monitoring these targets is described in the “Sustainability targets” section within the "ESRS 2 General disclosures” chapter.
Textile Recycling target
[MDR-T 80b, 80c, 80d, 80e, 80i, 80j]
Increasing the share and types of alternative feedstocks, e.g. by using recycled textile waste or agricultural waste by 2030 |
2030 |
|
Sub-targets |
Increasing recycled content in viscose and lyocell fiber types from 20 percent to minimum 30 percent from post-consumer waste on a commercial scale by 2030 |
2030 |
|---|---|---|
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Innovating the use of at least 5 alternative feedstocks providers (e.g. from recycled textiles and agricultural waste) by 2030 |
2030 |
Scope |
All Lenzing fiber production sites |
|
Geographical coverage |
Grimsby (United Kingdom), Heiligenkreuz (Austria), Lenzing (Austria), Mobile (USA), Nanjing (China), Prachinburi (Thailand), Purwakarta (Indonesia) |
|
Base year |
2020 |
|
Baseline value |
Up to 30 percent recycled content in lyocell fibers (TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™) |
|
Target value |
30 percent recycled content in viscose and lyocell fibers; 5 alternative feedstocks |
|
Status 2025 |
Lenzing has continued to work on enhancing technology that enables the chemical recycling of cotton-rich textile waste in cellulose fiber production. The company has also made progress in preparing for the processing of post-consumer household textile waste, which Lenzing anticipates will become the most significant category to address locally. There is optimism that new EU regulations will mandate the collection and treatment of textile waste and support scale-up efforts. Collaboration with Södra on textile recycling has continued and remained successful throughout the year. A highlight in 2025 was production of a lyocell staple fiber with 30 percent recycled content from Circ Inc., an innovative company. Notably, Circ effectively processes challenging polycotton waste, recovering both polyester and cotton fractions. In exploring other alternative raw materials, lab tests were conducted on agricultural waste such as hemp, banana fibers and aquatic plants. However, none of these innovations reached pilot-plant scale in 2025. Lenzing remains committed to further investigating these alternatives. |
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Circular Business Model target
[MDR-T 80b, 80c, 80d, 80e, 80i, 80j]
To innovate a new circular business model by closing the loops for post-consumer materials and partner with 15 key supply chain companies by 2025 |
2025 |
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Scope |
Group level |
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|---|---|---|
Geographical coverage |
Europe, America and Asia |
|
Base year |
2020 |
|
Baseline value |
0 |
|
Target value |
15 |
|
Status 2025 |
Despite challenging market conditions regarding circularity, including limited market demand, the target was successfully achieved. Lenzing addressed this objective through three strategic approaches: a) collaborating with innovators to address various waste sources and leverage their unique capabilities; b) integrating multiple recycling methods such as mechanical, chemical, and blending with virgin materials; and c) conducting smaller-scale collections within Lenzing’s downstream value chain to generate insights and prepare for future scale-ups. A notable accomplishment in recent years was the successful pilot program to collect textile waste, sort it via a social enterprise organization (SEO), and recycle it into new fibers‑a scalable model that both promotes recycling and supports social enterprises. Additionally, Lenzing’s collaboration with Recyc Leather resulted in the combination of recycled leather fibers and TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers to create an innovative material for footwear, which has been adopted by a leading Danish contemporary brand. |
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