9/24/2019 0 Comments Lyocell, A Biodegradable Future
When we think of fabric, most people tend to imagine cotton, leather, and polyester. However, a wide variety of fabrics exists today. One example is Lyocell. Lyocell is created from taking wood pulp, turning it into a liquid, and extracting fine fibers from the pulp. It is one-part natural fiber and one-part man-made fiber. Lyocell has many redeeming and unique qualities however, one of the most important is its Eco-friendly benefits.
Lyocell is created by following a series of detailed steps. To create the “pulp”, wood from birch, eucalyptus, and oak trees is sent to a mill where it is chopped, softened, and turned into a wet pulp. Next the cellulose is dissolved at high heat and filtered. From there, it is put through the spinning process. The fibers are then dried and lubricated and finally, carded. The final process involves “rolling the carded fiber strands and sending them to a fabric mill.” (lyocell.info, 2019) Given its botanical origin, Lyocell fibers are compostable and biodegradable. The production process of Lyocell omits destructive byproducts, utilizing non-toxic, recyclable amine oxide. The tree farming process does not involve irrigation or pesticides. Lastly, the entire process clocks in around two and a half hours! It requires less water and energy, making it a comparable source to other man-made fibers. Some of the advantages to using Lyocell include high moisture absorbency, great for sensitive skin, natural elasticity, durability, and anti-bacterial qualities. Disadvantages include poor dye absorbency and presently, Lyocell is not as cost efficient as other fibers like cotton. Lyocell is used to create items like t-shirts, trousers, and bedding. It is completely biodegradable which, highlighting sustainability, is most advantageous for the future of our planet. The duality of being a natural source turned into a man-made fiber is perhaps, the greatest combination. (Visser, 2019) Sources: Cell Solution Germany Lyocell Plant Lennart Larsen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_KJfLzWGGw Lyocell, The Fabric of the Future. Lyocell.info, 2019 https://lyocell.info/ Visser, Miriam. Lyocell fabric made from wood. Design-4-sustainability.com, 05 May, 2010 http://www.design-4-sustainability.com/materials/8-lyocell-fabric-made-from-wood Sterbenz, Christina. How Tencil Compares to Cotton, businessinsider.com. September 2015 https://www.businessinsider.com/how-tencel-compares-to-cotton-2015-9
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