#Sustainability

2019-10-24

DuPont Biomaterials and Lenzing collaborate to launch new sustainable fabric collection

DuPont Biomaterials and Lenzing are launching a fabric collection made predominantly of fibers derived from natural materials. The collaboration blends DuPont™ Sorona® fibers and TENCEL™ Lyocell and TENCEL™ Modal fibers from Lenzing, to give extremely soft garments greater resilience in stretch, recovery and dimensional stability.

The new certified mill-collection will expand the future of sustainable textiles for designers to use in various applications, including active wear, ready-to-wear, intimate apparel and denim.

With a rich history of textile innovation, DuPont has invented groundbreaking fibers such as nylon, Lycra®, DuPont™ Kevlar® and rayon. Its Sorona® brand – made from 37 percent renewable plant-based ingredients – offers a high-performing, responsibly sourced material option.

Lenzing has 80 years of experience producing high-quality fibers with environmentally responsible and innovative technologies that help preserve the planet’s natural resources. TENCEL™, Lenzing’s textile specialty brand, is derived from sustainably sourced natural raw material wood. TENCEL™ branded fibers are produced via an environmentally responsible production processes, and are compostable and biodegradable, which defines a new evolutionary step of sustainability and natural comfort for everyday use.

“The future of fibers belongs to the companies that are putting performance and sustainability at the forefront of everything they do,” said Renee Henze, Global Marketing Director, DuPont Biomaterials. “Our collaboration with Lenzing’s TENCEL™ branded fibers will allow more apparel brands the opportunity to weave sustainable comfort into their products and achieve the ultimate blend of comfort, eco-efficiency and performance. Together, DuPont and Lenzing address tomorrow’s challenges through renewably sourced fiber materials without compromising performance and value.”

The blend of DuPont™ Sorona® fibers and TENCEL™ Lyocell and TENCEL™ Modal fibers encompasses an entire range of constructions, colors and weights. There are many stretch fabrics in this collection offering designers spandex-free options. Sorona® polymer fibers offer the perfect comfort stretch performance without breaking down overtime, due to heat, UV rays, or chlorine exposure meaning clothes continue to look, feel and perform great each time you wear them.

Offering vibrant, soft and breathable fabric material options, the first versatile collection will include various applications:

Intimate apparel: Exceptionally soft knitted blends of TENCEL™ Modal fibers and Sorona® fibers create a blend of long-lasting luxurious softness and cozy comfort that creates a barely there feel.

Active wear: TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers together with Sorona® fibers create knitted fabrics that can keep the body pleasantly cool and dry with their natural comfort and versatility, enabling freedom to move with confidence.

Ready-to-wear: TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers and Sorona® fibers combine to form a comfortable woven collection that enable natural comfort, softness, smoothness, color performance, moisture management, stretch, recovery and dimensional stability that is catered for everyday use.

Both TENCEL™ Lyocell and TENCEL™ Modal fibers have similar product benefits in terms of softness, smoothness, color performance, moisture management, are derived from the natural raw material wood, and are produced in environmentally responsible production processes. What the DuPont™ Sorona® polymer based fibers brings to the table is stretch without spandex, recovery and dimensional stability giving the exceptional soft and comfortable constructions allowing for movement and resilience for going the extra mile.

“As a specialty fiber business with a strong focus on innovation and quality, sustainability plays an integral role in what we do. With the introduction of the TENCEL™ brand last year, we are moving beyond fiber types and characteristics and moving toward everyday use and benefits that brands and consumers value. By joining forces with another industry leader, we are enabling the acceleration of textile innovation through developing new environmentally responsible solutions,” said Andreas Guertler, Head of Global Business Development – Active and Outerwear, Lenzing AG. “Both DuPont and Lenzing share a rich heritage which is engrained in sustainability and innovative thinking. The combination of Sorona® fibers with TENCEL™ branded fibers will enable us to introduce next-generation fabrics that combine natural comfort, color performance, versatility, smoothness, softness and moisture management, exceed consumer expectation and enable them to ‘feel so right’.”

Discover the feeling of nature and experience the new collection for yourself. For additional information about Sorona® fibers, visit https://www.sorona.com. To learn more about TENCEL™, visit https://www.tencel.com.

DuPont introduces Tyvek® APX™ 400 protective coverall, setting a new benchmark for extreme breathability

DuPont (NYSE:DD) announced the launch of the Tyvek® APX™ 400 protective coverall, the first in a new generation of extremely breathable disposable chemical protection garments. Manufactured using DuPont™ Tyvek® APX™ groundbreaking fabric, the new garment combines 360° protection and durability with extreme breathability, taking worker comfort and safety to a whole new level.

DuPont™ Nomex® plant in Asturias receives ISCC PLUS certification

DuPont announced today that its Nomex® production facility in Tamón, Asturias, has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) certification. This achievement underscores DuPont's commitment to advancing its sustainability goals and building capabilities to provide reliable Nomex® solutions from sustainable raw materials worldwide.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.