#Nonwovens

2026-03-26

VEOCEL™ Lyocell production expands to Asia – Launching a new chapter for nonwovens in the region

Lenzing’s Thailand production plant starts producing nonwoven-grade lyocell fibers, marking a significant milestone. Built to serve Asia from Asia, the site strengthens regional lyocell fiber supply and reduces the fiber’s transport-related environmental impact due to significantly shorter lead times © 2026 Lenzing

VEOCEL™, Lenzing's flagship specialty nonwovens brand, expands production at its Thai plant in Prachinburi. This is the first-ever production of its nonwoven-grade lyocell fibers in Asia. Built in 2022 with a 100,000-ton annual production capacity, the facility - previously focused on fibers for textile applications - now can directly meet the demand for VEOCEL™’s biodegradable¹, wood-based lyocell fibers for nonwovens products. These fibers are an essential ingredient for high-quality nonwovens products, ranging from baby wipes to facial sheet masks and everyday personal hygiene items.

Serving Asia from Asia

For more than 25 years, Lenzing has led the way in lyocell fiber production, driving sustainability, pioneering innovation, and setting new standards in cellulosic fibers. This expansion brings those fibers closer to nonwovens customers and value-chain partners across Asia, improving access and reinforcing VEOCEL™’s commitment to the region. With production in Thailand, manufacturers and brand partners can now count on greater supply chain stability with significantly shorter lead times.

Localized production also means fewer miles traveled. Sourcing these fibers directly within Asia, rather than from Lenzing’s other lyocell facility in Austria, reduces the need for intercontinental imports. This significantly contributes to reducing transport-related emissions, supporting the environmental commitments of both Lenzing and its partners in Asia.

“This expansion is a landmark achievement for the VEOCEL™ brand and the broader nonwovens industry in Asia,” said Patricia A. Sargeant, Executive Vice President Nonwovens at Lenzing AG speaking at the launch ceremony on 18th March in Prachinburi. “We are now ideally positioned to serve our valued customers with enhanced speed, stability, and sustainability². We deeply value the partnership we have built so far, yet there is more to come. We believe that true progress is only possible when we move forward together. By offering a robust local supply of biodegradable¹, wood-based lyocell fibers, we are empowering our partners in Asia to meet the consumer demand for environmentally responsible wipes and hygiene products, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with global logistics.

Building on a sustainable foundation

The Prachinburi plant itself exemplifies Lenzing’s commitment to responsible fiber manufacturing. Its production of VEOCEL™ Lyocell fibers utilizes a resource-efficient, closed-loop production process that results in low air and water emissions². The facility also drives Lenzing’s broader climate goals, targeting 95 percent biomass energy by 2027 and Scope 1 and 2 carbon neutrality by 2030³.

“Our site in Thailand was built with future growth and our ambitious climate goals in mind,” added Krishna Manda, Global Head of Sustainability for Lenzing Group. “Expanding the facility’s capabilities for VEOCEL™ fibers is a testament to our ongoing investments in sustainable innovation. Once fully commercialized, this capability will play a vital role in transitioning the regional nonwovens industry from fossil-based synthetics to biodegradable, cellulosic alternatives. We look forward to strengthening collaboration as we begin this new chapter together.”

The plant uses optimized processes to guarantee the high performance, skin comfort, and sustainability benefits VEOCEL™ is known for. By aligning local supply with global environmental standards, Lenzing is advancing an eco-conscious supply chain and reinforcing its leadership in environmentally responsible fibers.

¹ A range of LENZING™ Lyocell fibers for nonwoven applications are certified by TÜV AUSTRIA to be biodegradable in soil, freshwater and marine conditions and compostable under home and industrial conditions.

² VEOCEL™ Lyocell fibers have gained a commendable reputation for their environmentally responsible, closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers using a highly resource-efficient process with low ecological impact. Within this solvent-spinning process, the process water is recycled, and the solvent can be recovered up to 99.8 percent and reused.

³ Please refer to Lenzing Annual and Sustainability Report 2025.

TENCEL™ Lyocell - HV100 achieves global denim availability in six months; Vol. 2 debuts at Kingpins Amsterdam

When TENCEL™ Lyocell - HV100 debuted at last year’s Kingpins Amsterdam in October, 17 mill partners across five countries presented fabrics featuring the new fiber. Just six months on, participation has more than doubled, evolving into a global network that spans nine countries and four continents, signaling both strong industry momentum and growing demand.

Lenzing unveils three-tier cellulosic fiber portfolio for next generation protective wear

The Lenzing Group, a leading supplier of regenerated cellulosic fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, today introduces Lenzing Solutions for Protective Wear. This integrated three-tier portfolio is anchored by LENZING™ FR fibers at the highest protection tier for inherent flame resistance and brings together complementary solutions including TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers, both EU Ecolabel-certified² and derived from certified or controlled wood sources³, within a unified protective wear architecture for the first time. The launch marks the most significant expansion of Lenzing’s protective wear business since the company pioneered inherently flame-resistant cellulosic fiber in 1977, and comes as the global personal protective equipment (PPE) market accelerates toward an estimated USD 130 billion by 2033⁴.

Sustainability: European industry calls on EU to keep Single-Use Plastics Directive unchanged

A broad coalition of European industry associations, including EDANA, Euratex and Plastics Europe, has urged EU institutions to maintain the current legal framework of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). In a joint statement, the organisations argue that reopening the Directive at this stage would create legal uncertainty, increase regulatory complexity and undermine investment, while its implementation across the European Union is still incomplete.

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

Towards pragmatic and harmonised labelling in the EU

EDANA, alongside 14 European associations, urges the European Commission and Member States to adopt a pragmatic approach for the future harmonised packaging labels, in line with the EU’s agenda for the EU Single Market, simplification and competitiveness. The system should rely on text-free pictograms, available in achromatic or monochromatic versions matching the packaging palette, with the possibility of using digital labelling as a core element. Our associations represent manufacturers of consumer goods across Europe.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.