TENCEL Lyocell with REFIBRA technology

REFIBRA technology is a recycling process introduced by Lenzing in 2017, producing TENCEL Lyocell fibres from a blend of FSC-certified wood pulp and recycled cotton pulp. Initially only pre-consumer cotton scraps from garment cutting were used; since 2021 sorted post-consumer cotton waste from used garments is processed as well. The recycled cellulose content in the fibre is up to 30 percent.

The process is based on the classic Lyocell method using N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) as solvent. Over 99 percent of the NMMO is recovered in a closed loop, keeping the environmental balance excellent despite the additional recycling stream (EU Ecolabel, USDA BioPreferred). The fibres carry a proprietary Lenzing identification, allowing brands to verify the Refibra content down to the finished garment.

Typical applications: denim collections (Levi's Water<Less with Refibra), lightweight summer blouses, baby bodies, plus blends with organic cotton or linen for t-shirts and sweatshirts. Refibra helps brands meet the planned EU recycled-content quotas for textiles from 2030 onwards and is compatible with most other fibre certifications (GOTS, GRS, Made in Green).