For its textile Lenzing Ecovero and nonwoven Veocel brands in Asia-Pacific, Lenzing Group, a market leader in the manufacturing of wood-based specialty fibers, has announced plans to enhance the production of its high-quality responsible viscose fibers. The viscose fibers, which are manufactured at Lenzing’s Purwakarta plant (PT South Pacific Viscose) in Indonesia and are EU Ecolabel certified, will assist Lenzing in meeting the rising demand from customers who are environmentally concerned for textile and nonwoven products with a smaller environmental impact.
According to a press release from the company, Lenzing has effectively converted its Indonesian location, reducing its annual CO2 footprint and sulphur emissions while also improving wastewater management.
“We put in a lot of effort to move the textile industry’s business model from linear to circular and to make the sectors in which we operate even more sustainable. I am therefore thrilled that we have now been awarded the EU Ecolabel, which again validates our performance in terms of sustainability. The market for specialized fibers with minimal negative effects on the environment is structurally expanding. We believe that Asia, in particular, has immense growth potential. According to Stephan Sielaff, CEO of the Lenzing Group, “Our investments in Indonesia and other Lenzing locations around the world put us in an even better position to address the growing demand for specialized fibers with low environmental effect.
The converted Purwakarta site’s proximity to value chain partners in Asia-Pacific allows for the transportation of a larger quantity of responsible viscose fibers within a much shorter distance and lead time, thereby lowering the overall carbon footprint of the textile supply chain and catering to brands and retailers who serve environmentally conscious Asian consumers.
Lenzing Ecovero branded viscose fibers have been used in fashionable woven and knitwear products like stylish tops, dresses, T-shirts, and loungewear because they are produced with up to 50% less fossil energy use and water than generic viscose and are accredited with globally recognized EU Ecolabel. Top international fashion brands including M&S, H&M, and Levi’s use viscose fibers labeled with the Lenzing Ecovero trademark.
“Asia-Pacific offers us many potential and expansion opportunities. The area has developed into a convergence of all supply chain elements, from spinners, weavers, and knitters to garment makers and sourcing offices, as brands and retailers continue to reorganize their manufacturing network. The increased production of responsible viscose at the Purwakarta site will enable us to work more closely with our current customers as well as introduce Lenzing Ecovero to new prospects in the region who are eager to switch from generic viscose to responsible viscose, according to Florian Heubrandner, executive vice president of Lenzing AG’s global textiles business.
Before the end of 2023, Lenzing’s Purwakarta site will be able to produce the cutting-edge Lenzing Ecovero Black specialty fibers, which will significantly reduce water and energy usage in fabric dyeing thanks to a spun-dying process with a lower carbon footprint, to give industry partners more options for versatile, responsible products, added the release.
The converted production site has been effective in decreasing CO2 emissions by roughly 130,000 tons yearly, which is in line with Lenzing’s objectives of reducing group-wide CO2 emissions per ton of output by 50% by 2030 and attaining CO2-neutral production by 2050. The site’s switch from fossil fuel to geothermal energy is a crucial element in enabling Lenzing to complete this transformation.
