Lenzing Expands VEOCEL™ Branded Viscose Fibers Production to Satisfy the Environmentally Conscious Consumer Around the Globe
Climate change has placed a pressing need for sustainable solutions across all industries, not least the nonwoven industry. In the sector alone, 1.36 million tons of hygiene wipes were produced in 2020 and globally, approximately 30 million tons of absorbent hygiene products are used and discarded of each year, representing 3-4% of municipal solid waste that end their life in landfills or incinerators.
With its latest fiber innovation, Lenzing is stepping on the proverbial pedal to accelerate fiber sustainability with regards to climate impact. The company is expanding its sustainable viscose fiber portfolio with the addition of carbon neutral VEOCEL™ branded viscose fibers for the nonwoven market. The new fibers are certified as carbon-neutral through Lenzing’s partnership with ClimatePartner, a leading solutions provider for corporate climate action, where its emissions are measured, reduced and unabated emissions are offset by financing climate projects. Following the launch of the carbon neutral VEOCEL™ lyocell fibers for nonwovens, the expansion of the VEOCEL™ fiber portfolio is a further step by Lenzing to incentivize the transition away from the heavy reliance on synthetic and fossil-based materials in the personal care sector.
“Everything we do at VEOCEL™ is centered around the mission to be a responsible everyday care brand and demonstrate our care for the future of our planet.”
Monique Buch – Vice President, Global Nonwovens Business, Lenzing
“This launch is exciting for the nonwovens industry as not only are we focusing on the reduction of our carbon emissions, but also actively identifying ways to empower our supply chain partners, consumer brands and consumers to do the same,” says Monique Buch, Vice President, Global Nonwovens Business, Lenzing. “This is a natural next step in order to drive the decarbonization of the nonwovens value chain and lower its impact on the environment.”
Known globally for its versatile, high-quality cellulosic fiber options, Lenzing’s VEOCEL™ brand for nonwoven is the preferred choice for personal care and hygiene brands hoping to enhance their sustainability offerings. Brands can trust VEOCEL™’s latest carbon neutral viscose fibers to be a clean and safe fiber derived from renewable wood sources through a pulping and production process that brings the inherent advantages of cellulose-based fibers to personal care and hygiene products: natural absorbency, liquid distribution, biodegradability, versatility, all with a reduced impact on the climate.
To support the continuously growing hygiene market, an area where demand has significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, Lenzing has expanded its production capacity for VEOCEL™ fibers globally. Carbon neutral VEOCEL™ viscose fibers are available via Lenzing’s Austrian production site from May 1, 2023 onwards. In addition, Lenzing is also heavily investing in more eco-responsible production, targeted to meet the EU-Ecolabel Criteria while reducing carbon emissions across its production sites in Asia.
VEOCEL™ – Eco-Responsible Viscose Fibers Produced with Care
As a leading global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, Lenzing is leading the way to make a positive impact on the environment and encourage an industry-wide shift for brands and manufacturers alike to reduce their carbon footprint. The company has its own ambitious resolve: to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. On addressing the intrinsic links between nonwoven production’s impact on our climate, the company has mapped out a detailed ClimateTransition Action Plan, serving as a model industry standard on how companies should take action for climate protection. The plan includes strategies for carbon emissions reduction, sustainable product offering, and different stakeholders engagement aimed at influencing climate and environmental policies for the better.
Lenzing’s integrated production plant in Austria is where actual carbon emissions are reduced through leveraging efficient production methods, such as the direct production from wood to fiber, as well the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power and biomass.
What Consumers Want – A Product of Nature for Nonwoven Applications
Responding to market needs, VEOCEL™ fibers offer product developers and manufacturers what consumers actually desire. VEOCEL™ fibers are derived from nature and return to nature, contributing to a product’s a strong foundation for natural circularity. VEOCEL™ offers much more than that, including a solution to meet the savvy consumer’s desire for verifiable clean and safe options. Lenzing’s fiber cleanliness is monitored by internal and external test methods based on industry standards such as ISO or BISFA norms.
Product developers and manufacturers can rest assured that new VEOCEL™ branded viscose fibers can be blended with other fibers. They are naturally smooth and offer a typical soft touch to intimate product applications such as feminine pads and adult incontinence products. With an effective liquid management property, the fibers naturally regulate liquid absorption and release, offering an effective way to care for and ultimate greater comfort to the skin. Lenzing’s partners can be confident in their choice to incorporate VEOCEL™ branded viscose fibers from a socially-responsible and trusted label.
“Everything we do at VEOCEL™ is centered around the mission to be a responsible everyday care brand and demonstrate our care for the future of our planet,” says Buch. “We hope that by taking responsibility to effect real change within the industry, we can build a better tomorrow for future generations.”
For more information on how you can utilize Lenzing VEOCEL™, please contact Monique Buch – Vice President, Global Nonwovens Business, Lenzing.
