About 71% of the world’s manmade cellulosic fibre (MMCF) producers (representing 54% of global production) have now achieved the ‘green shirt’ rating in the 2023 Hot Button report.
- There is also a 29% uptick in low-carbon, circular NextGen commercial lines.
- The top performers in this year’s Hot Button Report are Aditya Birla with the highest score (32.5 out of a maximum 40) followed close on its heels by Lenzing in the second spot with 32. Tangshan Sanyou and Xinxiang Chemical Fiber (Bailu) tied for third position with 31.5.
- The report’s findings come as major players in the CanopyStyle initiative, now at 550 brands representing $1 trillion in annual revenue, are deepening their commitment to NextGen fibres and forest conservation.
The highlights: The percentage of global fibre production from producers earning ‘green shirts’ has risen, from 50% in 2021 to 53% in 2022 to over 54% in 2023.
- There are now nine established commercial lines of NextGen made with recycled textiles, one more than last year and five more than in 2021: Lenzing’s Refibra, Birla’s Liva Reviva, Sanyou’s Revisco, Yibin Grace’s ReGracell, Sateri’s Finex, Xinxiang Chemical Fibre’s Eco-Bailu, Daiwabo’s Recovis, a line from Jilin Chemical Fiber Co, and select offerings from E Miroglio contain recycled cotton fibre. In addition, Eastman’s Naia ES Renew has launched a transitional NextGen fibre. These products are all available for purchase — offsetting thousands of tonnes of forest fibre.
- Nearly all participating producers reported NextGen R&D activities: testing and conducting trails on NextGen inputs. Volumes of pulp in the NextGen trials are significantly higher this year compared to last year, and some producers are making improvements to their facilities to enable processing of larger volumes of MMCF fibre containing Next Gen pulp.
- Four producers now use 90% or more FSC-certified wood fibre, and 57% of producers have increased their use of FSC-certified fibres over last year.
The ratings: The Hot Button green shirt rating indicates that MMCF producers do not have a high risk of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests.
- Producers that continue to have red in their shirts—be it in combination with other colours or full red—are assessed to present high risk of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests.
The next round: In 2024, Canopy will engage with remaining ‘red shirt’ producers on their sourcing and on opportunities to use alternative fibres and will continue to encourage improvement among those already showing leadership, primarily by supporting their efforts on NextGen Solutions.
NextGen fibres: Canopy sees NextGen fibres as those derived from recycled textiles, agricultural residues such as straw, and food-waste-derived microbial cellulose. These feedstocks provide low-carbon, low-impact, and circular alternatives to conventional virgin wood fibre.
- NextGen fibres carry on average four tonnes less carbon per tonne of product and have one-fifth the impact on biodiversity than conventional forest-based products.
