The textile industry is constantly evolving. Currently, lyocell, or Tencel, appears to be the most important fabric for clothing, household goods, and industry. Its many positive properties seem almost too good to be true. What makes this semi-synthetic fiber made from wood so special, and is investing in lyocell really worthwhile?
Lyocell: An overview of the special features of this plant fiber
Lyocell is now found in many garments, textiles, and medical supplies. In stores, you'll usually find lyocell under the brand name Tencel. We've compiled the special properties that make these regenerative cellulose fibers so unique below.
What is Lyocell or Tencel?
Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fiber. Although it is plant-based, synthetic substances are also used in its production to ensure a high-quality product. Lyocell, also known as Tencel, is made from wood. Eucalyptus, spruce, pine, birch, and beech are the most common woods used.
How is lyocell manufactured?
Lyocell production begins with the shredding of wood chips. These wood chips are then soaked, which causes the cellulose to dissolve from the wood. This cellulose is then mixed with water and a solvent and heated under a vacuum. In the next step, the water is removed from the mixture, resulting in a spinning solution. This solution is filtered, pressed, and bathed to produce fibers.
In the next step, the fibers are washed and dried so that they can be spun into yarn. The lyocell fibers can then be woven and further processed.
What makes lyocell production special is that it is a closed-loop system. More than 99 percent of the solvents and additives used are recovered and can therefore be reused. Furthermore, no byproducts are generated during production.
What types of lyocell are there?
Lyocell is generally classified according to fiber thickness. Fiber thickness ranges from 0.9 dtex (very fine) to 15 dtex (very coarse). The unit "dtex" indicates how many grams the fabric weighs per 10,000 meters. Very fine lyocell fibers therefore weigh 0.9 grams per 10,000 meters.
Depending on its thickness, the fabric is suitable for different uses and products. Additionally, there are lyocell products that are blended fabrics. This means that other fibers such as cotton, polyester, or viscose have been added to benefit from the positive properties of both materials.
What products are made from lyocell?
Lyocell is now found in numerous different textiles. These include:
- Sports and activewear
- filling of duvets
- Mattress cover fabrics
- Bed linen/bed linen
- underwear
- wrinkle-free shirts and blouses
- Summer clothing (trousers, dresses, T-shirts, etc.)
- First aid supplies
- Conveyor belts
For whom is lyocell particularly suitable?
Due to their many positive properties, lyocell products are a good choice for most people.
People with dust mite allergies benefit from bedding made of lyocell, such as our lyocell bedding , as the material is hypoallergenic. Furthermore, you can wash the duvets at 60 degrees Celsius and tumble dry them. This kills bacteria and reliably removes dust mite droppings.
Clothing made from lyocell/Tencel is ideal for summer. Because the cellulose fibers are breathable, you'll sweat less. Lyocell also feels cool and light against the skin.
Is lyocell truly sustainable?
The short answer is yes, Lyocell/Tencel is sustainable. First of all, the textile fiber is 100 percent biodegradable. In contrast, pure synthetic fibers often take 100 years or more to decompose completely. Furthermore, no byproducts that could pollute the environment are generated during production.
The production cycle is closed. This means that all additives involved, such as solvents, are recovered and can be reused repeatedly. The solvents used are non-toxic. This means that even if they were to enter the environment, this would have no negative consequences for humans or nature.
The above-described process for obtaining regenerative cellulose fibers is significantly faster than the production of purely synthetic fibers. Thanks to the simple, rapid processes, production consumes less water and less energy!
Sustainable forestry and wood used
Lenzing, the leading manufacturer of lyocell products sold under the Tencel brand, is committed to sustainability. It sources its lyocell fibers from sustainably managed forests, primarily from eucalyptus trees. These trees meet numerous criteria for environmentally friendly lyocell production: eucalyptus trees can even thrive in areas no longer suitable for growing grain or other food crops.
They are fast-growing and require neither regular watering nor the use of pesticides.
For comparison: Cotton requires five times as much land as eucalyptus to produce the same amount of fabric.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of products made from lyocell?
Every fabric used for textiles has different positive properties. While natural fibers are often better for the skin, synthetic fibers are considered extremely durable. Lyocell also offers specific advantages and disadvantages, which we have compiled for you below.
| Advantages |
|---|
| Depending on the fabric, machine washable at up to 60 degrees and suitable for tumble drying. |
| durable and tear-resistant |
| Good heat and cooling properties, especially advantageous for bedding made of lyocell |
| High wearing comfort, as the fabric is very soft. |
| sustainable, vegan alternative to leather, wool and silk |
| Breathable fabric: prevents sweat odor |
| quick-drying, similar to cotton |
| Versatile applications through coloring, preparation and further processing |
| Disadvantages |
|---|
| Chemical treatment of a plant material to prevent pilling and preserve colorfastness |
| Higher price than other products due to high production costs |
Frequently asked questions about lyocell
What is the difference between Lyocell and Tencel?
In short, there is no difference. While Lyocell is the name of the fabric, Tencel is the brand name under which the market leader Lenzing sells the cellulose fiber. Therefore, you will more often encounter the name Tencel when searching for Lyocell in stores.
Is lyocell elastic?
Lyocell is one of the most stretchy fabrics currently available. The material is not only highly elastic, but it also doesn't lose its shape. This means that your lyocell clothing retains its form while still stretching smoothly.
How breathable is lyocell?
Here too, the same applies: Lyocell is among the most breathable fabrics currently available. This is one of the reasons why the fabric is so suitable for sportswear.
Does one sweat with lyocell?
No, if you wear clothing made of lyocell or sleep under lyocell bedding, you probably won't sweat, or at least much less. Furthermore, clothing made of lyocell/Tencel prevents unpleasant odors from developing.
Is lyocell a microfiber?
Yes, lyocell is considered a microfiber. The manufacturing process creates a microfiber from cellulose that combines the aforementioned positive properties.
What is the best way to wash and care for lyocell?
When caring for and washing lyocell, you need to distinguish between pure lyocell/Tencel and blended fabrics. Blended fabrics can often be machine-washed at 60 degrees and then tumble-dried. Pure lyocell products should be washed either by hand or on a gentle cycle at 30-40 degrees. You can always find out whether your lyocell products can be tumble-dried and what to consider when washing them by checking the care label of the garment.
When ironing, turn your lyocell clothing inside out and use low heat.
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