The leading textile brand Tencel from the Austrian fiber manufacturer Lenzing AG is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022. It was launched in the 1990s as “Lenzing Lyocell” and renamed Tencel after Corsadi BV (part of international finance group CVC) sold the brand to Lenzing for an undisclosed sum. The company merged them with its lyocell business and retained the Tencel brand name.
With this step, Lenzing secured its position as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality cellulose-based fibers. Today, Lenzing offers three sustainable solutions under the Tencel brand name: Tencel Modal and Tencel Lyocell Filamentis alongside Tencel Lyocell.
Lenzing offers three different sustainable Tencel fibers
While Tencel Lyocell fibers are obtained from sustainably grown wood in a closed-loop system that also recovers and reuses the solvents used, Tencel Modal fibers are known for their high flexibility, softness and durable quality, while Tencel Lyocell Filamentis fibers allow for the production of an extremely fine allow filament yarn.
“Right from the start, i.e. since its introduction 30 years ago, Tencel was intended as a solution provider for the textile industry. With the industry’s growing need for a higher level of sustainability and transparency, the brand has evolved from a behind-the-scenes player to a successful mainstay in 2018. Since then, Tencel has expanded its offering from fiber creations to pioneering digital technologies,” explains Robert van de Kerkhof, Member of the Management Board of Lenzing, in a statement.
“To date, the Tencel brand has exceeded all industry expectations and established itself as a “trusted supplier” for high-quality and sustainable fibers with the world’s leading fashion and home textile brands. We are very excited about this milestone and also look forward to continuously boosting innovation and building strong partnerships over the next 30 years and beyond,” adds van de Kerkhof.
300 brand partners worldwide
Today, Tencel works with more than 300 brand partners worldwide in various consumer-facing campaigns and has been supported by the launch of Tencel eShop in 2021, the first e-commerce channel ever created by a sustainable fiber manufacturer to reach consumers encourage them to make informed purchases.
“Our partnership with the Tencel brand started more than 20 years ago. Tencel brand fibers are produced more efficiently with the most sustainable process and the smallest ecological footprint. As our focus is on promoting sustainable yarns and fabrics, this collaboration is a perfect match that aligns with our sustainability goals and those of our customers,” says Durai Palanisamy, Managing Director of Pallavaa Group.
“Due to the circular economy and energy-saving production, Tencel fibers are the ideal solution for environmentally conscious fashion. I first became aware of the Tencel brand about 30 years ago when I was looking for a way to make denim more feminine and friendly. I was so enthusiastic about Tencel that I designed an entire collection with it, which in turn revolutionized the textile and denim industry. At a time when comfort and sustainability are simply a must-have, fibers from the Tencel brand are indispensable,” explains Adriano Goldschmied, founder and president of the Genious Group.
As part of the Tencel brand’s “digital first” strategy, Lenzing has invested extensively in proprietary technologies to reduce the environmental impact of textile production and has developed platforms to support the sustainability dynamics of stakeholders. The introduction of the fiber detection system, fabric certification and licensing services offered through the Lenzing e-branding service platform have driven comprehensive transparency in the supply chain.
Net zero emissions by 2050
In addition, the Tencel brand has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2020 the first CO2-neutral Tencel fibers came onto the market and in 2021 the CO2-neutral range was expanded to fibers with Refibra technology. This means that they are manufactured in an efficient recycling process and thus contribute to the circular economy in the textile industry. “The use of resources and energy is reduced to a minimum, while at the same time we achieve a high level of environmental protection and resource conservation,” explains the company on its website.
Anticipating increasing demand from consumer brands for specialty fibers, Lenzing has strengthened its production capacities with an ambitious growth plan and will boost this growth by opening the world’s largest lyocell production site in Thailand in early 2022.
“In 2022 we will continue to focus on developing carbon neutral innovations that are crucial for the textile and fashion industry. In the next decade there will be other sustainability-oriented innovations that will help us achieve our Vision 2050. We are grateful for the first-class cooperation with our partners and colleagues over the past 30 years and look forward to even greater successes in the coming 30 years,” comments Florian Heubrandner, Vice President Global Textiles Business at Lenzing.