WHAT IS LYOCELL?

Lyocell fiber is made by chopping wood into tiny pieces and mixing the chopped pieces with a chemical solution. The solution turns the wood chips into pulp which, can then be spun into thread. The process is very similar to rayon however, the sustainable attributes associated with Lyocell have made it one of the most eco-friendly fibers on the market [1].   

SUSTAINABILITY OF LYOCELL

First, the wood used to make our Lyocell comes from Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus trees are known for their fast growth rate and ability to grow on land not suitable for agricultural use. Also, no harmful pesticides or fertilizers are needed to grow Eucalyptus trees [1,2].

Second, the chemical production process of Lyocell is considered a closed loop system in which 99.8% of the solvents are recovered and reused (Gullingsrud, 2017). The waste from the process can be reused for glass making and all disposed of waste is treated at a wastewater treatment plant. The solution is considered non-toxic and has a minimal impact on the environment [1,3].

All thread from Lyocell is 100% biodegradable!

DOWNSIDES

Lyocell is a fairly new process (1970) but has gained huge traction over the years for its sustainable attributes. The major hurdle it must overcome is the deforestation of existing ecological systems to grow Eucalyptus trees. From our research efforts, we have found no correlation to deforestation and our Lyocell thread.

WHY LYOCELL?

Our research for a sustainable thread started with organic cotton however, it was too brittle for the sewing machine and everyday use. We tried recycled polyester but, we wanted a product that was fully biodegradable while also contributing minimal environmental impact. Lyocell provided the perfect mix of strength and environmental responsibility. Also, we believe in a diversified garment industry. No one material should dominate it all and diversifying our assets will give us a stronger sustainable portfolio.