To address the enormous textile waste challenges of industry and society, Lenzing is upcycling cotton waste with REFIBRA™ technology. This technology utilizes pre-consumer cotton scraps and post-consumer garments from the textile value chain as raw materials. Along with wood pulp, these materials are used for the closed-loop production of lyocell fiber at a commercial scale. The technology combines textile-to-textile circularity and traceability to create fibers with lyocell technology, widely acknowledged to be the most eco-responsible wood-based cellulosic fiber, and the recycling of cotton scraps from garment production. Our goal is to reach 50% post consumer waste pulp content by 2024.

Lenzing embeds different elements of the circular economy in its business model, practices and innovation. They are covered under the following areas: Natural Circularity: Lenzing’s products are made from the renewable raw material wood, which is sourced from sustainably managed forests and plantations. Lenzing’s fibers are compostable and biodegrade at the end of their use. Thus, the material loop closes and aligns with the biological cycle. Resource-efficient Technologies and Products: Lenzing continuously develops innovative technologies for the production of sustainable products. A special focus is on the optimal utilization and processing of all raw materials and the efficient recovery of chemicals, water and energy. Upcycling Textile Waste: With the launch of Lenzing’s REFIBRA™ technology in 2017, Lenzing achieved an unprecedented milestone for circular economy in textiles by developing a new fiber based on cotton scraps and wood. Traceability and Transparency Solutions: Lenzing follows a three-pillar approach to a more sustainable and more transparent supply chain: fiber identification system, blockchain and supply chain collaboration and planning. Combining these different approaches assures a high degree of transparency and verifies the origin of Lenzing fibers throughout the supply chain up to the final garment. Collaboration for Systemic Change: Complex global challenges require a cooperative approach. The Lenzing Group therefore cooperates with a large number of stakeholders and business partners along the value chain in order to jointly advance the systemic change with regard to sustainability in the textile and nonwovens industry. To reach the goal of 50% post consumer waste the collaboration from entire supply network is required.

TENCEL™ Lyocell with REFIBRA™ technology is currently produced at our Austria production facilities. In 2017 production started with 20% post industrial waste and progressed to 30% mix of post industrial and post consumer waste. The goal is to reach 50% post consumer waste pulp by 2024

TENCEL™ Lyocell with REFIBRA™ technology is available with Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) certifying that all production processes in the entire supply chain have undergone relevant steps to ensure the integrity of the final product. There are also FSC certification for wood pulp and Oekotex 100 for fiber.

Lenzing, Candiani Denim, Artistic Milliners, Accelerating Circularity, Gap, VF, Target, Nike