The search for much more responsible and ecofriendly materials to satisfy the textile demand in a more sustainable way, is a constant path. For us, the only possible future is to continue in this search for balance to generate the least impact. That is why today we want to talk to you about ecologically responsible viscose: Lenzing Ecovero, a new material that we have introduced in some design of the new collection and that is a great alternative to traditional viscose.
Ecovero™ fabric stands as one of the most responsible options and has a series of positive characteristics that we are going to reveal to you:
Lenzing™ Ecovero™ is a viscose much cleaner and more ecological today and is produced following a series of strict label guidelines set by the European Union.
Traditional viscose comes from the pulp of processed wood that has to go through a series of quite aggressive and polluting chemical processes. This means that in the end it is still a semi-synthetic chemical fiber. It is one of the most used materials so far in the fashion industry because it is true that from this fiber very soft and silky fabrics are obtained with an incredible fall, but at what environmental price? To get this viscose or rayon, as it is also often called, it is necessary to use large amounts of highly toxic chemicals in its processing that are not only harmful to the planet, but also to the workers themselves.
Is there another alternative to find a fabric with the same properties but less impact? As we have been telling you yes: the ecological viscose Ecovero™ produced by Lenzing™, leading producer of cellulose fiber in Austria.
VISCOSE CONVENTIONAL VS VISCOSE LENZING ECOVERO
The main differences between conventional viscose and Ecovero ™ is that the latter is manufactured using wood from controlled sources and sustainably managed FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Association for Spanish Forest Certification). In the case of conventional viscose, the problem starts from the raw material itself, since most of the wood necessary for its production comes from threatened sources such as tropical forests.
Another fundamental difference is the transport routes of the raw material: while the traditional viscose is fed by raw material from all over the world which leads to much longer merchandise routes, the Ecovero™ is fed by wood from nearby forests. Significantly shorter transport routes mean a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions.
Regarding chemicals and toxicity, in the case of conventional viscose these gases tend to escape to the outside easily because they do not work with a closed circuit as in the case of eco-viscose, thus polluting the environment. Lenzing™ produces the cellulose fiber in a state-of-the-art facility through a new and innovative environmental process that has significantly lower emissions and water impact. Almost all the water and chemicals used are recovered, recycled and reused again. “Lenzing Ecovero’s production causes 50 percent fewer emissions and consumes half the energy and water, plus its pulp bleaching is 100 percent chlorine-free.”
Finally, it is important to know that Ecovero fibers do not come from monocultures (such as bamboo or eucalyptus) but come from sustainable forestry.
The path that we are traveling looking for new, more sustainable materials is based on transparency, which is everyone’s responsibility and in the long run is a common good for the Planet: “We support the trend in the fashion industry towards greater transparency”, “Each It is increasingly important to know where the products come from and what path they have covered”, according to Robert van de Kerkhof, director of Lenzing.
It is clear that chemical products are still needed to manufacture this fabric, but with their control, reuse and recycling, the impact is greatly reduced and the end result is a great alternative to conventional viscose.