© Lenzing AG

Versatile fiber

Learn more about TENCEL, a soft material created from wood

by Jen Madera

You might have noticed TENCEL™, made by Lenzing, cropping up as a component in many products.

It can be used in disposable products—such as baby wipes—and also in clothing. What is TENCEL, and why use it?

TENCEL is a versatile fiber that can be used to make a variety of items, from baby wipes and cleansing towelettes to clothing and bedsheets. Here’s a look into the fiber that was used to develop several Kirkland Signature™ products.

Unlike synthetic materials and plastics, this fiber is created from sustainable natural sources and starts as a plant—in this case, a tree. “TENCEL fibers are wood-based fibers that are sourced from certified forests,” says Tom Carlyle, a commercial manager for Lenzing. Pulp derived from wood contains cellulose, a naturally occurring material that all plants create during the photosynthesis process. The wood pulp is used to produce the TENCEL fibers, which can then be made into a base for both non-woven disposable materials and reusable textile fabrics. TENCEL is incredibly soft, breathable and cool to the touch, making it an excellent material for clothing and any other products that come into contact with the skin. It’s also resistant to bacterial growth.

TENCEL fibers are fully biodegradable in soil, fresh water and seawater, meaning they will break down completely after 42 to 65 days. When composted properly, it creates a sustainable life cycle of the item. In contrast, waste from plastic products won’t decompose for 20 to 500 years, according to the United Nations website. Because TENCEL is harvested from wood, a renewable resource, and is used to create products that are biodegradable, the patented production process results in what Lenzing describes as a closed-loop system with a low environmental impact.