Manmade Cellulosic Fibres

There is a very interesting overlap between the traditional wood pulp industry and new innovative textile fibres, especially manmade cellulosic innovations coming out of the Nordics. These innovative fibres could well change the fashion business. A first hand account of the just-concluded Pulp & Beyond 2024 event in Helsinki.

The Lenzing Group has announced a new fossil-free Tencel lyocell fibre that delivers exceptional stretch and recovery properties while adhering to responsible production methods. 

Without a rapid transition to “preferred” fibres and raw materials, including significantly reducing reliance on virgin fossil-based synthetics, the textile-fashion industry is unlikely to meet the 45% GHG emissions reduction target for raw material production by 2030, warns the just out 'Materials Market Report' by nonprofit Textile Exchange.

The 2023 Hot Button report cites a 29% uptick in low-carbon, circular NextGen commercial lines with India's Aditya Birla leading the rankings with about 71% of the world’s manmade cellulosic fibre (MMCF) producers having achieved the ‘green shirt’ rating.

Sustainable forest management has become increasingly critical as the role of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) gains currency as preferred materials that play a vital role in the textile-fashion industry's efforts to embrace environmentally responsible and socially accountable approaches. A whitepaper by PEFC or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification equips brands and retailers on how to advance the traceability of MMCF materials.

In the textiles-fashion ecosystem, news is usually ephemeral. But when Swedish innovator Renewcell dispatched the first shipment of its Circulose dissolving pulp to a customer, the excitement remained palpable for weeks on end. Tricia Carey, Chief Commercial Officer at Renewcell, talks about the flurry of activities at the company.

A leading manufacturer of specialty viscose fibres, Kelheim Fibres GmbH, has a portfolio of functional biodegradable viscose fibres for unique products. Marina Crnoja-Cosic, Director – New Business Development (Marketing & Communication) talks to texfash.com about the ongoing innovation, the route taken on sustainability and how the market for viscose is shaping up.

In a significant development, Australian biotechnology company Nanollose has filed a patent for its technology that produces microbial cellulose from organic food and beverage waste.

Birla Cellulose has completed the first pilot scale spin of an eco-friendly next generation lyocell fibre containing 20% microbial cellulose Nullarbor-20.

There is a critical imperative to improve the metrics used to quantify environmental impact indicators, especially related to the variety of factors that influence environmental sustainability of forest products, a study that looked at potential non-climate environmental impacts of wood-based textile fibres has contended.