Lyocell, the sustainable fabric obtained from wood

All kinds of very attractive garments can be made with lyocell, with a soft touch, good drape and resistance to wrinkles. But the most interesting thing is that it is a fiber more sustainable than conventional cotton or viscose because it requires less use of water and other natural resources.

How is lyocell produced?

lyocell It is produced from the cellulose of wood. of trees such as beech, eucalyptus, fir or pine. There are other textile fibers that come from wood, such as viscose, but lyocell has the advantage that it does not require the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Is lyocell a natural fiber?

Although it is easy to find advertisements and articles stating that lyocell is a natural fiber due to the fact that it comes from wood, the truth is that technically is defined as an artificial fiber, because industrial chemical processes are necessary to produce it. But just because it’s artificial doesn’t mean it’s less sustainable or less healthy than other truly natural fibers.

Is lyocell better or worse than cotton, silk and other fabrics?

Lyocell, currently marketed under the brand names Tencel, Excel and Newcell, has been produced industrially from eucalyptus wood since the late 1980s. It is increasingly used by the textile industry for its good qualities in relation to aesthetics and sustainability.

The textile expert and professor Antonio Solé Cabanes affirms, for example, that it is more breathable than cotton (absorbs twice the humidity), more elastic and durable, it is biodegradable and very versatile, since all kinds of garments can be made.

Its softness with the skin and its behavior in the face of humidity make it very appropriate for manufacture of sportswear.

Lyocell is compared to silk or linen in terms of comfort. Consequently, it is often used for light clothing such as blouses, shirts or sleepwear.

In addition, garments made with lyocell cool when hot and warm when colda quality similar to that of wool and that allows its use in garments such as pants or jackets.

The tissue naturally regulates humidity and temperature, which does not favor bacterial growth. Therefore, it is also used for duvets or mattresses and is suitable for people with sensitive or allergic skin.

So much so that it is considered a very appropriate material for the babies bedding (for the duvet or sleeping bag) because it reduces the risk of heat build-up.

On the other hand, it can be easily mixed with other fibers, such as cotton, silk or recycled polyester, it is easy to care and can be washed normally.

Clothing with built-in sun protection

The Lenzing company, the main producer of Tencel, has developed a fiber that incorporates protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It is a physical protection, not chemical, so it is safe and also is not affected by sweat, as is the case with synthetic materials with UV protection.

Lyocell is not only ideal for adults, it is particularly suitable for babies. Functional properties such as heat regulation for the lyocell duvet or sleeping bag, for example, significantly reduce the risk of overheating or heat build-up in babies.

Lyocell is quite sustainable

The cultivation of the wood from which lyocell is extracted consumes up to 15 times less water than cotton plants. Eucalyptus is the most widely used tree and its cultivation can be done without pesticides or other chemical products in areas that do not steal land from food crops for humans.

Then, to produce the fiber, chemical solvents (amine oxides) are used, but these do not remain in the fiber or are discharged into the environment, but are reused almost 100% to repeat the process in a closed circuit. The result is a fiber so clean and biodegradable that clothing can be compostable.

The only reason lyocell hasn’t dominated the other fibers yet is that it’s more expensive. Currently the largest production plants are in Asia and Africa, but if production began in Europe the price could drop significantly in the future.

Due to its qualities and sustainability, lyocell is already being used by Spanish sustainable fashion firms such as Infinit Denim and María Malo, among many others. Mango and Zara also incorporate this fiber in some collections.