Celebrating 30 years of sustainable fiber innovation with TENCEL

Feel Good Fibers since 1992 – Celebrating 30 years of sustainable fiber innovation with TENCEL™

Launched in 1992, TENCEL™ is the flagship brand under the Lenzing Group that covers textile fiber offerings derived from renewable wood sources.

Since then, TENCEL™ has been driving the evolution of fiber solutions for the apparel and home textile segments through a number of industry-first innovations, environmentally responsible production processes, and close collaboration with brands and industry stakeholders.

TENCEL™ branded fibers are known to be soft to the skin, smooth to the touch and contribute to breathability, offering specialty fiber solutions across all segments through TENCEL™ General, TENCEL™ Active, TENCEL™ Denim, TENCEL™ Intimate, TENCEL™ Footwear, TENCEL™ Luxe and TENCEL™ Home.

Looking forward, TENCEL™ will continue to build on its achievement and success over the past 30 years as it continues striving towards a sustainable future, ultimately achieving a carbon neutral textile industry.

Unique offerings

1992 – TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers first began production in Alabama, U.S.

1997 – Lenzing launched the first full-scale lyocell production plant in Heiligenkreuz, Austria

2004 – Lenzing acquired the TENCEL™ brand and its production sites in the U.S. and the U.K., tripling its lyocell capacity

2011 – Lenzing further expanded it’s lyocell fiber production and started building the first lyocell fiber plant in Lenzing, Austria

2017 – Lenzing launched TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers with REFIBRA™ technology, utilizing a mixture of wood from sustainable sources and cotton waste from garment production

2017 – TENCEL™ Luxe Lyocell filament yarn was introduced to offer high-end fashion sustainable fiber materials

2018 – Lenzing redefined TENCEL™ as the flagship brand that covers textile specialty product fiber offerings to enhance product brand offerings and drive consumer demand; TENCEL™ brand offering extended to cover TENCEL™ Modal fibers

2019 – Industry breakthrough for Lenzing’s pioneering REFIBRA™ technology with the successful production of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers using post-consumer cotton waste

2020 – Launched carbon zero TENCEL™ fibers to reinforce Lenzing’s commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative and reduce overall carbon emissions

2021 – Launched matte TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers for the denim industry; Launched TENCEL™ Limited Edition, Introduced world’s first TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber made of orange pulp and wood with Orange Fiber

2022 – Opening one of the world’s largest Lyocell production facilities in Thailand to drive ambitious growth plan for TENCEL™ branded fibers

Pioneering technology innovations

1990s – Micro technology ensures TENCEL™ branded fibers are extra fine and delicate, to produce lightweight fabrics

1999 – Cross-linking fibers enhance comfort in knitwear applications

2010 – Eco Color technology guarantees long-lasting color fastness and versatility in textiles produced using TENCEL™ Modal fibers

2017 – Eco filament technology supports TENCEL™ Luxe filament yarn production

2018 – Launched Lenzing E-branding platform to enable producers, retailers and brand owners to showcase their use of sustainable TENCEL™ fibers; Eco Soft technology provides exquisite softness for TENCEL™ Modal fibers

2020 – Eco Clean technology provides total chlorine-free-bleached TENCEL™ Modal fibers

2020 – Collaboration with TextileGenesis™ delivers Blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability for TENCEL™ fibers

2021 – Indigo Color technology manufactures TENCEL™ Modal fibers for the denim segment

Key collaboration achievements

Following the rebranding of TENCEL™ brand in 2018, a number of consumer-centric initatives have been launched to support the shift towards a more sustainable lifestyle. The TENCEL™ eShop, launched in 2020, is the industry’s first e-commerce platform managed by a fiber manufacturer.

TENCEL™ has worked with over 300 co-branding partners globally on customer oriented campaigns such as Make It Feel Right, TENCEL ™ X, and True Carbon Zero. Such collaborations helped to encourage consumers to make informed purchases and push for the adoption of sustainable practices across the fashion industry.