Tencel® is the brand name for Lycocell which is manufactured in the US by Lenzing Fibers, Inc. of Mobile, Alabama along with their related European entities in England and Austria. Lycocell is made by combining wood pulp with a non-toxic organic solvent in a nearly closed loop process that reclaims and recycles the auxiliary substance back into the production process making Tencel® completely natural and biodegradable. This solution is then spun into long fibers that are woven into cloth. In addition to clothing, it is used for a variety of products including medical bandages, specialty papers, baby diaper wipes and conveyor belts. Lycocell fabrics can be woven or knit into a variety of finishes from soft to suede-like to silky. And, Lycocell can be blended with silk, cotton, rayon, polyester, linen, nylon or wool fibers.

Wood pulp has been used to make fabric since the mid nineteenth century, but became far more popular in the late twentieth century when rayon became accepted as a silk substitute. Wood is one of the earth’s most readily renewable resources and offers the advantage of low water consumption in contrast to many natural raw materials. Wood pulp used to manufacture Tencel® is usually from oak, birch or eucalyptus. Eucalyptus trees are particularly significant because they can reach maturity in as few as eight years without pesticides or irrigation. And, 100% of each eucalyptus tree can be used which means that no part of the resource needs to become waste. Most of us think of the relaxation properties of eucalyptus used in our skincare, spa and home décor products. But, eucalyptus proves to have many interesting uses. It has been used for centuries to help clear congestion, and it is used in products such as vinegar and artificial sweeteners.

In terms of an earth friendly product and one being completely sustainable, it appears that Tencel® made from eucalyptus has few rivals. For example, rayon garments made from bamboo upon first look offered many great qualities like moisture management and anti-microbial properties, but upon deeper investigation its manufacturing process and the chemicals involved in the conversion of bamboo into rayon made it less than eco-friendly.

Special thanks goes to Ken Koneck from Valley Forge Fabrics for encouraging us to investigate this marvelous fabric so that we could share will all of you reasons to consider Tencel® garments for your next corporate wearables program. Valley Forge fabrics is the leading provider of fabrics to the hospitality industry, and its management has dedicated itself to producing sustainable and earth friendly products for years.

Please contact TheMarketPro when you are considering promotional products and corporate wearables so that we can provide the information you need to make the best possible purchasing decisions. TheMarketPro can be reached at 800-905-0073 or sales@themarketpro.net . Additional articles can be found at www.TheMarketPro.net in our “Going Green with Promotional Products” and “Coffee Break Reading” sections.

Sources:www.brandbook.com; www.fastcompany.com; www.lycocell.net; www.patagonia.com; www.valleyforge.com; www.wikipedia.com; and www.wisegeek.com

Author: Connie King
Published: July 2010