KELHEIM - Speciality viscose producer Kelheim Fibres, which is renowned for its adherence to high sustainability standards, has been recognised by forest conservation organisation Canopy in the latter's latest 'Hot Button' report.
Bavaria-based Kelheim received a “green shirt" ranking in the latest report, a result that underlines the company‘s excellent performance as regards to raw material sourcing.
The Hot-Button report is highly valued by fashion brands as a reliable indicator of sustainability for viscose fibre producers.
The CanopyStyle initiative aims to achieve that no wood from ancient and endangered forests is used to produce viscose fibres. The audited companies must prove that they avoid these fibres and have implemented appropriate rules and procedures to check the origin of the wood.
During the process, the performance in the areas of environmental protection and innovation are examined and evaluated by qualified external auditors with the report set to be posted publicly in the first quarter of 2020.
“For years now Kelheim Fibres has consistently recognised the importance of sustainability and environmental protection," said Matthew North, Commercial Director at Kelheim Fibres. "Now that resource saving and alternatives to plastics are of focal interest to the public and to the economy, our products are meeting with an even better reception from the market. Fibres produced in Germany with low emissions from certified sustainable timber meet the needs of customers seeking products that have a low risk of sourcing from ancient and endangered forests.
"Having been awarded a `green shirt ´ in the `Hot-Button ´ ranking once again underlines this absolutely clearly!”.
Kelheim’s viscose specialty fibers consist of 100 per cent cellulose and are therefore completely biodegradable. These fibres offer an eco-friendly alternative to mineral-oil-based fibers, in particular for end products — like many nonwovens or hygiene applications — intended for convenient one-time use.
Kelheim’s specialty fibres for this area include not only the well-known fibre Galaxy, one of the world’s leading viscose fibre for the tampon production, but also short cut fibres that have been specifically designed for processing in modern wet laid plants. These fibers enable the manufacturing of completely plastic-free and even flushable wipes from 100 per cent cellulose.
In textiles, too, consumers value natural materials. Kelheim’s range of specialty fibres for textile applications comprises spun-dyed fibres, as well as the renowned brand names Viloft and Viseta: in yarns, the flat fibre Viloft creates small air pockets, that make the textile highly breathable and comfortable — an ideal fibre for warm, close-to-the-skin feel-good clothes.
The company produces around 90,000 tons of viscose fibres per year at its plant in Kelheim in South Germany.
