Lenzing Achieves EU Ecolabel Certification for Indonesian Fibers, Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability

Lenzing Achieves EU Ecolabel Certification for Indonesian Fibers, Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability

(IN BRIEF) The Lenzing Group, a leading provider of specialty cellulose fibers for textiles and nonwoven industries, has attained certification from the prestigious EU Ecolabel for its fibers produced at the Indonesian facility in Purwakarta (PT. South Pacific Viscose). This certification signifies that Lenzing’s fibers meet stringent environmental standards, expanding its product portfolio to include LENZING™ ECOVERO™ and VEOCEL™ brand fibers. Lenzing’s substantial EUR 100 million investment in modernizing the Indonesian site has led to a significant reduction in emissions, a shift to renewable energy sources, and a commitment to biomass conversion. This aligns with Lenzing’s sustainability goals, aiming for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions per product ton by 2030 and carbon-neutral production by 2050. The company’s specialty fibers, including LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Black, are known for their lower carbon footprint and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional viscose, addressing the pressing issue of climate change in the textile and nonwoven industries. The EU Ecolabel certification recognizes Lenzing’s dedication to producing environmentally friendly fibers.

(PRESS RELEASE) LENZING, 22-Sep-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The Lenzing Group, a world-leading provider of specialty cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwoven industries, has received certification from the internationally recognized EU Ecolabel[1] for its fibers at the Indonesian site. This means that Lenzing fibers produced in Purwakarta (PT. South Pacific Viscose) meet high environmental standards. The product portfolio thus expands and qualifies for the production of LENZING™ ECOVERO™ brand fibers for textiles and VEOCEL™ brand fibers for nonwoven applications. By switching its previous production capacities to specialty viscose, Lenzing is in a better position to serve the strongly growing demand for environmentally friendly viscose fibers.

The substantial investment of EUR 100 mn to modernize the Indonesian site has enabled Lenzing to significantly reduce its specific emissions. In addition, the site recently began sourcing energy from renewable sources and is driving the conversion to biomass in line with Lenzing’s goals of reducing group-wide carbon emissions per ton of product sold by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon-neutral production by 2050.

“We are working tirelessly to make the industries in which we operate even more sustainable and to drive the transformation of the textile business model from a linear to circular. I am therefore very pleased that we have now received the EU Ecolabel, which once again confirms our sustainability performance. Our investments in Indonesia, as well as in other Lenzing sites around the world, put us in an even better position to meet the growing demand for specialty fibers with low environmental impact,” said Stephan Sielaff, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group.

Boosting growth in specialty fibers

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the most pressing problems of our time, to which both the global textile and nonwovens industries make a major contribution. LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose fibers (for textiles) and VEOCEL™ Viscose (for nonwovens) have been proven to cause significantly less greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution than conventional viscose. At the Indonesian site, Lenzing also plans to produce the innovative LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Black fibers in the future, which also require less energy and water in textile chain thanks to the spun-dyeing process and thus also have a lower carbon footprint in their life cycle as a textile product.

[1] The EU Ecolabel is recognized in all member states of the European Union, as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. The voluntary label, introduced by an EU regulation in 1992 (Regulation EEC 880/92), has gradually become a reference point for consumers who want to help reduce pollution by purchasing more environmentally-friendly products and services.

Media Contact:

Dominic Köfner
Vice President Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
+43 7672 701 2743
media@lenzing.com

Daniel Winkelmeier
Communications Manager
+43 7672 701 2871
media@lenzing.com

SOURCE: LENZING AG