- Tencel is the brand name for the fiber lyocell
- It is made wood fibers and therefore environmentally and skin-friendly
- Tencel is versatile and a good alternative to synthetic fibers and cotton
Not only on slow fashion You can read labels on the labels of supple shirts, leggings and Workout clothes a term more and more often: Tencel. Here you can find out everything you need to know about man-made fiber.
What is Tencel?
Tencel is the brand name for lyocell. The Austrian manufacturer Lenzing AG coined this brand name and all rights are reserved to it. For this he was awarded the European Environment Prize. The material is made of Wood fiber won. It is therefore a more ecological alternative to other fabrics such as polyester, viscose and co. But also an alternative to classic fabrics cotton.
The eucalyptus tree usually serves as the basis for this. This is grown in sustainable forestry. Eucalyptus trees need no pesticides and they also grow very quickly. In this way, the water consumption in the production of Tencel is significantly lower than in comparison to conventional cotton.
Source & Copyright by Tencel
Related topics: Beautiful textiles for sustainable furniture
Origin and production
The invetor of Tencel is Lenzing AG. It has existed for over 80 years. At the Lenzing site in Austria, the company was already producing pulp and paper before the Second World War. After 1945 it initially mainly produced viscose. Since 1970 she has focused on environmental restoration. Because the production of viscose polluted water and air heavily. Lenzing spent a long time researching a solution. In 1990 the group was able to open its first lyocell fiber plant and then bought the brand name Tencel in 2004.
Tencel is made from eucalyptus leaves. Simply put, these are shredded and soaked into yarn. But it is actually not that straight forward: The process is extremely labor intensive with a high energy consumption, using quite a lot of resources and chemicals. However, the special thing about Lenzing AG: Only certified wood from sustainable timber is used, water is used sparingly and reused, energy is sourced from bioenergy and with the help of a cycle closure process chemicals are not released into the air. In conclusion, the fabric can be produced in an environmentally friendly way.
Advantages and disadvantages of Tencel
Why is Tencel environmentally friendly?
- The exposure to chemicals is comparatively low - an advantage compared to synthetic fibers.
- In addition, water is saved during production - an advantage compared to cotton.
- Wood fiber clothing is breathable - so it doesn't have to be washed as often.
- Eucalyptus is a renewable raw material and is therefore ecologically degradable
- In addition, Tencel is pleasant to the skin, cooling, falling nicely and wrinkle-free
What are the challenges?
The material is becoming increasingly popular, but is not yet being mass-produced. Therefore, the price is often higher, both for producers and for the end consumer. The costs are still much higher than for clothing made of cotton or synthetic fibers. To change this, demand has to increase, but this carries the risk of deforestation. It is therefore of greatest importance that only sustainable and certified wood is sourced.
