LENZING - Cellulosic fibre specialist Lenzing is to offer its carbon neutral, Veocel branded fibres from its U.S. speciality production site, located in Mobile, Alabama.
Reaffirming its strategy to maintain and pursue ways to reduce its carbon emissions for its flagship nonwovens brand, Lenzing said it was also continuing to investment in solar power, use of renewable energy sources, technology upgrades, and sourcing its materials from suppliers who also make efforts to reduce carbon emissions while working towards science-based targets.
"At Lenzing, we are dedicated to offering products based on renewable material wood, derived from sustainably managed forests, and our new carbon neutral lyocell fibers available in North America is the latest example of how we’re making significant strides in achieving new certification standards while reinforcing Lenzing’s commitments to carbon neutrality," the company said
On a regional basis, Lenzing said it was aiming to work with existing and new customer partners within a vast radius of Mobile, AL, and to prioritize transportation of its product by railway, to further minimize carbon emissions. “The production of our carbon neutral Veocel Lyocell fibers in North America is a game changer for our customer partners who are seeing a rise in consumer demand for products such as flushable toilet tissues, cleaning, baby and facial wipes,” said Jean Francois De Gruttola, Head of Business Development, Nowovens (EU, U.S. & MEA) for Lenzing Fibers Inc. “Making Veocel Lyocell fibres with Eco Disperse technology available in the U.S. allows us to expand our portfolio of carbon neutral fibres for the first time for better quality, and highlights the latest example of the thirty year history of reducing climate impact at our manufacturing site in Mobile, AL.”
Additionally, Lenzing’s long-standing partner Suominen, the first supplier to adopt innovative carbon neutral Veocel Lyocell fibres in March of 2022 said it would be the first nonwovens manufacturer to offer North American sourced, carbon neutral Veocel Lyocell fibres for its products. “Suominen is open to collaborate with different partners and this collaboration with Lenzing is a great example," added Lynda Kelly, senior vice president, Americas & Business Development at Suominen. "Carbon neutral Veocel Lyocell fibres will support our goal of providing more sustainable products to the market. We are excited and proud to be the first to offer North American sourced carbon neutral Veocel Lyocell fibres for our products with Lenzing as our local partner. This collaboration is one more step towards our strategic vision to become the frontrunner for nonwovens innovation and sustainability."
Neutrality
In partnering with ClimatePartner, Lenzing’s remaining carbon footprint is also fully compensated through the support of verified carbon offset projects.
As it stands, Veocel fibres offer a 30% lower carbon footprint than the group average for Lyocell fibres. In addition however, remaining emissions allocated to this fibre type will be compensated through the support of verified carbon offset projects. Part of this reduction achievement is contributed by LFI’s switch to 100% renewable electricity.
Since June 2021, Veocel fibres are also available as certified Carbon neutral products with a reduced and fully compensated carbon footprint through cooperation with ClimatePartner. Achieving certified carbon neutrality was the result of Lenzing’s ambitious carbon reduction efforts over the last years, its long-term commitments to a net-zero target, and the collaboration with ClimatePartner, a recognized global leader in the design, development and delivery of corporate climate action programs, to offset the remaining emissions and therefore verify the carbon neutrality of the fibres.
As it works towards its net-zero target, Lenzing said it will continue to broaden its fiber offering through climate friendly solutions and is working in cooperation with ClimatePartner on additional verified carbon offset projects and carbon neutral solutions.
