Thursday Tip with Hali - What is Ecovero™?
Thursday Tip // What is ECOVERO™?
It’s popping up everywhere, but what is it?
Correctly labelled, LENZING™ ECOVERO™, this eco-responsible viscose fibre made and trademarked by the Lenzing Group is another step in the right direction for sustainable fibres. Although it is still a viscose fibre produced in much the same way as rayon, with toxic chemical use and issues with wastewater pollution, the steps Lenzing has taken to ensure a lower environmental impact and their commitment to sustainable forestry practices gives this fibre a leg up on generic viscose and some cotton production as well.
Lenzing is world renowned for its sustainable wood sourcing through certified and controlled wood sources. Wood and pulp used for the production of LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibres is certified by the FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council) and/or PEFC™ (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded viscose fibres have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence that is awarded to products and services meeting high environmental standards throughout their life cycle: from raw material extraction to production, distribution and disposal.
Lenzing’s production of ECOVERO™ branded viscose claims a lower carbon footprint with lower fossil fuel emissions and up to 50% lower water impact compared to generic viscose production which is less water than conventional cotton production as well. Lenzing prides itself on having a high recovery rate for process chemicals however it is unclear whether they use a closed loop system for LENZING™ ECOVERO™ specifically (read more about the closed loop process for Lenzing’s other fibre, TENCEL™ here).
Lenzing has a fibre identification process so their trademarked fibres can be identified even after long textile processing and conversion steps all the way through the value chain. This way brands that say they are using “Ecovero” in their products can be held accountable for use of this trademark. If you are interested in clothing brands that use LENZING™ ECOVERO™ in their products, you can find a list of brands here.
LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded viscose fibers are fully biodegradable and compostable as certified by TÜV Austria for industrial, home, soil, freshwater, and marine conditions; taking approximately 3 months to decompose in comparison to polyester which can take anywhere from 20-200 years. These timelines will vary depending on how the fabric is treated, dyed and if it is blended with other fibres. This goes for other sustainable fibres as well, the more treatments, the more time to decompose.
LENZING™ ECOVERO™ has a soft hand and luxurious appearance. These fibres are soft, comfortable and lightweight. LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fabrics are durable, resistant to pilling, wrinkles and resistant to moths and mildew. ECOVERO™ has a generous drape, soft hand and depending on the blend these fabrics can be great for everyday wear and sportswear.
As a viscose fibre, ECOVERO™ has low thermal resistance so it is generally recommended to wash with cold water on a delicate cycle and lay flat to dry. Find our current selection of ECOVERO™ fabrics by typing “Ecovero” into the search bar on our website!
Have you purchased an ECOVERO™ fabric yet? How have you liked sewing with it and/or wearing it?