How Lenzing’s Sustainability Efforts Support ‘Better Growth’
On the heels of Earth Day, we’re looking back at Lenzing’s sustainability wins over the last year.
2022 brought about many milestones to celebrate, which are covered in our newly launched Sustainability Report. In climate action, we achieved an 18 percent reduction in specific greenhouse gas emissions compared to our 2017 baseline. This progress puts us further on our path toward our science-based targets to halve our carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. In line with these goals, we have launched carbon-zero fibers, including LENZING™ FR and TENCEL™ Modal Micro that debuted in 2022.
As we grow our portfolio of fiber solutions—including the recently launched matte TENCEL™ and TENCEL™ Modal with Indigo Color technology that cater to the denim world—our market presence is also expanding. Last year, we reached our goal of having half a billion products on the market bearing our brand names—TENCEL™, LENZING™, ECOVERO™ and VEOCEL™.
Our decarbonization initiatives also involve investments in our facilities to advance sustainability and efficiency. In March, we opened a new plant in Prachinburi, Thailand that runs entirely on sustainable biomass. We also started converting our Nanjing, China facility entirely to green energy in September, a move that will cut carbon emissions by 100,000 tons per year. Since July, the plant in Purwakarta, Indonesia has solely used renewable energy sources, which will save 75,000 tons of carbon annually. Our recently opened pulp mill in Indianópolis, Brazil is not only the largest of its kind, but it supplies bioenergy to the local power grid, supplanting electricity sources such as gas.
Another effort that will push our sustainability strategy forward is circularity. In 2017, we commercialized TENCEL™ Lyocell with REFIBRA™ technology, which replaces a portion of wood pulp inputs with cotton textile waste. Initially, all of our waste streams were post-industrial, such as cutting scraps, but we have been expanding our input sources to include post-consumer textiles. One of our goals is to incorporate post-consumer waste sources in all of our recycled fibers.
We’ve been recognized for our sustainability leadership. We placed highest among cellulosic fiber producers in Canopy’s Hot Button Report and the MSCI ESG gave us an AA rating. Lenzing was also among the 12 companies to achieve a triple A rating from CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), reflecting our work in carbon reduction, forest stewardship and water management. TENCEL™ Modal with Indigo Color technology also won the Sustainability Award at the International Textile Manufacturers Federation’s (ITMF) annual conference.
All of these efforts support our corporate strategy, “Better Growth.” Rather than simply shrinking our negative impact, we want to be a positive force for the cellulosic fiber industry and beyond. “It is our mission to change the world for the better,” wrote Stephan Sielaf, CEO of Lenzing, in the Sustainability Report. “This is what really sets us apart from other companies and gives a sense of purpose to what we do.”
To dive further into Lenzing’s sustainability initiatives, read the 2022 Sustainability Report here.