Tencel: The Feel-Good Fibre

This is a sponsored article from SustainabilityTracker.com member Snooze.

If you were around in the 1990s, you would surely remember the sweeping fashion craze that was Tencel™ jeans. Everyone who was anyone had a pair. It may have been many people’s earliest encounter with Tencel. Whilst Tencel fabric was developed in the 1970s, it wasn’t until the 90s that it was first incorporated into apparel. Aside from the iconic drape, what characterised this must-have fashion item was its impossibly-soft feel.

Back in the 90s, the fact that Tencel was made from wood pulp with sustainability in mind certainly made the marketing material; this feature didn’t hold the significance it does today.

A visionary fabric made from a blend of cellulose and lyocell fibres, not only is Tencel made with sustainably-sourced natural, raw wood chips, it is made using environmentally responsible processes. It is also biodegradable and compostable, meaning the fabric can return to earth and doesn’t create further waste.

Tencel is exquisitely soft to touch. It’s also breathable, has moisture-wicking properties, and doesn’t crease easily. That makes Tencel the perfect candidate to create a comfortable and environmentally-conscious range of bedding from. So, we did.

With so many fabrics to understand, here’s what’s important to know about Tencel:

1. Tencel is a fabric brand

Tencel is not a description of the fibre itself but rather the brand name of a regenerated cellulose material that certifies that the origin of the fibres, and the practices used to make them into fabric, are sustainable.

When you see the word Tencel on a product, you can be assured of the quality and origin of the material and that it will not be contributing to further waste or adding harmful chemicals to the environment.

2. Tencel has a range of desirable properties

While not technically classed as a natural fibre due to its man-made nature, Tencel still boasts many of the same properties as a natural fibre. After all, it is indeed made from a natural material. Tencel, is renowned for its feather-soft feel and breathability.

Many people find Tencel a particularly comfortable fabric. It is ideal for use in loungewear, fitness apparel and is a versatile, all-seasons bedding choice.

3. Tencel fibre is compostable

More than just being biodegradable, Tencel is compostable. At the end of the product life, Tencel has the ability to break down and return to earth, while providing the soil with nutrients. The fact that Tencel is compostable, means it can completely break down in a composting environment and be absorbed back into the earth. Tencel therefore does not contribute to further accumulation of waste on the planet.

4. Tencel fibre is sustainably sourced

Tencel fibre is produced using predominantly Eucalyptus species, certified sustainably-sourced from many countries across the globe. Eucalyptus grows comparatively faster when compared to other tree species and yields a high cellulose content. From Eucalyptus, Tencel can yield approximately 5 times as many fibres than cotton would produce using the same field area, making it a more efficient fabric.

5. Tencel is focused on creating a closed-loop production process

Tencel is made using a closed-loop production process. While producing Tencel, 99% of the chemicals used to break down the wood pulp are recovered and recycled. Almost none of the solvent used to make Tencel fabric re-enters the environment, rather it’s recycled. Tencel is focused on developing its offering, striving to maintain a closed-loop production process where nothing is wasted. When we look back at Tencel as we once knew it, we realise that this feel-good fabric is far more than an endearing moment in fashion, but indeed a defining moment in the creation of the fabrics of the future.

Feel good for yourself and discover our range of Australian-made Tencel bedding online or in-store at Snooze.

Keen to know more about Tencel? Check out these resources:

https://www.tencel.com/sustainability
Vimeo Video: Wood you… wear textiles originating from wood? We wood!
https://www.treehugger.com/what-is-tencel
https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-tencel/

This is an article from a SustainabilityTracker.com Member. The views and opinions we express here don’t necessarily reflect our organisation.