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Excellent

Material Deep Dive

Tencel Lyocell

Tencel Lyocell scores 89/100 due to strong water performance on weighted water and very low pollution mapping, plus fast biodegradability.

Regenerated

Virgin

End of Life

2 months

100/100
Chemical Use

Low

80/100
Pollution

Very Low

95/100
Water Usage

1,454 L/kg

97/100
Carbon Footprint

3.16 kg CO₂/kg

77/100
Considerations

The water footprint depends partly on forestry practices where the trees are grown

Production can be energy-intensive depending on the factory's power source

More expensive than conventional viscose or polyester

Supply is concentrated with a few major producers

Strengths

Made in a closed-loop process that recovers and reuses 99%+ of solvents

Fully biodegradable and won't shed plastic microfibres

Low pollution impact compared to conventional viscose

Strong environmental certifications available

Look for FSC or PEFC certification for responsibly sourced wood pulp

Carbon Footprint Analysis

77/100

Tencel Lyocell produces approximately 3.16 kg CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of fiber.

The Data

Carbon Footprint

3.16 kg CO₂/kg

FSI Carbon Score

77/100

Sources: Higg Materials Sustainability Index, Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber Report

Sustainability Breakdown

Microplastic risk

None

Care level

Easy

Available certifications

EU Ecolabel, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class I, FSC Certified, PEFC Certified, TÜV Austria Biodegradable Certification, GOTS (when organic feedstock), Lenzing Sustainability

Key properties

soft, breathable, moisture-absorbent, biodegradable, drapes well, hypoallergenic, absorbent, durable, lustrous, versatile, low microfiber shedding

Common uses

apparel, activewear, t-shirts, dresses, blouses, underwear, denim, sportswear, home textiles, bedding, non-woven applications

Also known as

Lenzing Lyocell, TENCEL, regenerated cellulose fiber, man-made cellulose fiber, sustainable lyocell

Tencel Lyocell quick guide

Last updated: December 2025

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