Lenzing Circular Economy

Circular economy

Reusing resources

The resources of our planet are limited

For this reason, we are working to support the transition towards more circular approaches in the textile and nonwovens industry. Our focus is on using renewable raw materials efficiently, supporting the use of alternative cellulose feedstocks such as cotton textile waste in selected fiber applications, and recovering chemicals, water and energy in our production processes.

What is circular economy?

The circular economy is inspired by natural cycles. Its aim is to keep products, materials and resources in use for as long as possible, thereby extending their useful life while reducing resource consumption and negative impacts.

By promoting use and cascading of renewable materials, reuse, repair and recycling, circular economy approaches can help reduce the demand for virgin raw materials and the generation of waste.

In simple terms, materials that would otherwise become waste can be recovered and reintroduced into value chains as inputs for new products.

Unlike a linear economic model, in which products are produced, used and discarded, the circular economy focuses on keeping materials in circulation for longer through repeated use, recovery and recycling.

We give waste a new life. Every day

We contribute to the transition towards a circular economy by seeking to use and keep renewable virgin materials in the loop and increase the use of recycled and alternative feedstocks across our business. We have been piloting different feedstocks over last years, e.g. hemp, organge pulp. We do this step by step which is reflected in our sustainability strategy and goals.

Furthermore, wherever possible, we co-develop circular solutions with partners within and beyond our current value chain. Examples include collaborations on textile waste collection, sorting and recycling, as well as joint work on alternative feedstocks and recycling technologies for new fiber applications.

Areas of circular economy

Lenzing's practice of circular economy

Natural circularity

Our products are made from the renewable raw material wood, sourced from sustainably managed forests and plantations, verified through certification schemes such as FSC® and PEFC. Lenzing's fibers are certified as compostable and biodegradable under defined conditions (including industrial, home, soil, and marine environments).

Developing commercial-scale recycling technologies

To support circularity in the industry, Lenzing contributed by developing fibers with REFIBRA™ technology, which uses cotton textile waste as a raw material. This technology utilizes pre- and post-consumer cotton scraps from the textile value chain.

Resource-efficient technologies and products

We use technologies in pulp and fiber production that are designed to optimize raw material use and support the recovery and reuse of process inputs. Examples include biorefinery processes that generate pulp, co-products and energy from wood, chemical recovery systems in lyocell and viscose/modal production, and water-efficiency measures such as recirculating cooling water and the reuse of process water in lyocell production.

Transparency and traceability of supply chains

We follow a three-pillar approach to a sustainable and transparent supply chain: fiber identification system, E-branding service platform and traceability via digital tokens. Combining these approaches supports transparency and traceability, verifying the origin of Lenzing fibers throughout the supply chain up to the finished garment.

Partnering for systemic change

Complex global challenges require a cooperative approach. We therefore cooperates with a large number of stakeholders and business partners along the value chain in order to jointly to develop recycling solutions, strengthen traceability and support take-back programs for post-consumer textiles in the textile and nonwovens industry.

Waste management

At Lenzing, waste management forms part of the company’s circular economy approach. This includes biorefinery processes that generate pulp, co-products and energy from wood, recovery systems that return process chemicals to production, and recycling applications in which textile and nonwoven production waste can be used again in fiber manufacturing. These measures are designed to keep materials in use for longer, reduce the need for primary raw materials and lower process waste.

Lenzing & Södra - together against textile waste

Lenzing and Södra, a global pulp producer, signed a cooperation agreement in 2021 to develop a solution for the enormous amounts of textile waste* from industry and society. In doing so, further development of recycling technologies support the use of cellulosic textile waste on a commercial scale.

The jointly developed OnceMore® pulp, obtained from recycled textile waste, is used e.g. as a raw material for the production of Lenzing's ECOVERO™ x REFIBRA™ specialty fibers, which in turn can be used to produce new textiles.

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A designer’s guide to fiber recyclability

As part of our cooperation with Södra and the LIFE TREATS program, we have developed "Enabling Circularity – A Designer’s Guide to Fiber Recyclability".

This guide explains how design choices such as material selection, product construction and consideration of reuse, repair and recycling can support circularity in the textile value chain. It shares insights into textile recycling by showing its possibilities and limitations, while inspiring designers to shift from a linear to a circular business model.

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