Austria's Lenzing wins ITMF Award for sustainable textile technologies

First launched in 2021, Tencel Modal fibre with Indigo Color technology has been established as the foremost fibre solution to address the demand for more eco-responsible fibre alternatives among denim brands and retailers. The new technology incorporates indigo pigment directly into Tencel branded modal fibres using a one-step, spun-dyeing process. Such process delivers superior colour fastness relative to conventional indigo dyeing. Compared with traditional rope-dyed indigo yarns, the production of Tencel Modal fibre with Indigo Color technology saves around 99 per cent of water and electricity, 80 per cent of chemicals, and even 100 per cent of heat energy, significantly reducing the ecological footprint of denim products, according to a press release by Lenzing.

“At Lenzing, sustainability and innovation are key drivers of our business, and it is truly an honour to be recognised by industry players and the ITMF Awards. Through a blend of eco-responsible materials and pioneering technology, we created a new benchmark for the denim industry with Tencel Modal with Indigo Color technology. We will continue to innovate our fibre offerings to address the rising demand for eco-responsible alternatives. With each fibre innovation, we are one step closer to reducing the environmental impact of our textile industry ecosystem,” said Florian Heubrandner, vice president global textiles business at Lenzing AG.

Tencel Modal with Indigo Color technology fibres offer several possibilities, from denim to outerwear, active attire, and footwear. The new fibres can even open up applications for indigo in baby items, such as clothing and sheets, added the release.

“While we continue to explore different washes, effects, and fibre blends, we are open for innovation and what can be done. Beyond the denim market there are already commercial programmes in knitwear. With so many great minds and new ideas out in the market, this is an excellent opportunity to experiment with something new and lower the environmental footprint,” said Tricia Carey, director of global business development denim and americas, Lenzing AG.

To date, Tencel Modal with Indigo technology has been designated BioPreferred by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and was certified with the EU Ecolabel.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)