Even our Stone Age ancestors knew that wood is precious. It can be used in many different ways and, if used sustainably, will always grow back in sufficient quantities. Wood is a raw material, building material and energy source all in one. This makes it one of - if not the - most exciting material in the world. As a door manufacturer, GARANT has long favoured local and controlled sustainable raw material extraction and now other sectors, such as the textile industry, have also discovered the advantages of wood for themselves.
Wood fibres as a sustainable alternative
The textile industry is increasingly having to deal with the issue of sustainability. The industry is characterised by fast fashion and poor production conditions.
Many textiles are made entirely or partly from synthetic fibres, such as polyester, polyamide, polyacrylic or nylon. They are based on fossil raw materials, which have finite resources and are harmful to the environment. This is because synthetic fibres contain microplastics that dissolve during a wash cycle, for example. The microplastic content is so small that it cannot be filtered in our sewage treatment plants. The result: microplastics end up in rivers and oceans and then back into our food chain.
What's more, most of these textiles are made from composite materials - a mixture of natural and artificial fibres. These fibres can no longer be separated from each other. The textiles end up in the waste - usually after a short period of wear. In Germany alone, around 1.3 million tonnes of old clothes are disposed of in this way every year. Worldwide, there is an oversaturation of discarded clothing that cannot be recycled or reused as second-hand goods.
A rethink is needed to counteract this trend. As a natural, renewable raw material, wood is a possible alternative. It is possible to produce yarn from the fibres of the raw material, from which natural, environmentally friendly and healthy textiles can be made.
Wooden yarn: How does it work?
The cellulose contained in wood is important for the production of wood yarn. It is produced during photosynthesis and is found in the cell walls of a tree. Each type of wood consists of about 40 - 50% cellulose. To produce yarn from wood, the cellulose is dissolved out of the wood in a solvent and pressed through a fine nozzle. The result is a so-called spinning bath from which the wood yarn can be obtained. This then results in natural fabrics that can be dyed and printed in a similar way to cotton fibres.
Wood fibres in comparison
Different life cycle assessments
Not all wood fibres are the same. They differ in their surface and strength. The life cycle assessment depends on the manufacturing process:
Wooden textiles at fair prices
- Modal is made from beech wood and is vegan. Beech is a native tree species, which means there are no longer any long transport routes. However, the yarn can only be produced through a complex chemical process that requires the use of highly corrosive caustic soda and sulphuric acid. This makes many modal yarn production processes harmful to the environment and health. It is also possible to recycle and reuse the chemicals. Depending on the production process, the eco-balance of modal can therefore be better.
- Viscose is the big sister of modal fabrics. The manufacturing process is almost identical. However, different types of wood (beech, eucalyptus, bamboo, pine, spruce) are used for viscose yarn. A lot of energy and chemicals are needed to transport and produce viscose. The yarn is often still produced in Asia under less than socially and environmentally acceptable working conditions.
- Lyocell or Tencel (brand name of the company Lenzing is a material labelled with the EcoLabel labelled yarn. The manufacturer Lenzing only uses wood from sustainable forestry. The company uses an organic solvent to insulate the cellulose and returns 99% of it to the production cycle. Garments made from Tencel are fully compostable.
Wood fibres can be used in many different ways. Natural materials are also playing an increasingly important role in interior design and home textiles. The Hamburg-based company carpetzhas specialised in the production of sustainable carpets. They are made from sisal, natural wool, lyocell and viscose. An additional plus point: the carpets are particularly soft and velvety. Wood fibres have the useful property of being breathable and regulating moisture. So what could they be better suited to than optimising our sleeping environment? Mattresses and duvets with surfaces or fillings made of wood yarn can support a peaceful night's sleep.
One example of this is the Kipli-Lyocell duvet. It regulates your temperature, is antibacterial and mite-repellent. Mattress covers made from the natural wood textile are available from allnatura. The "Hygiene" mattress protector consists of 100% Tencel filling. The fibre absorbs a lot of moisture and releases it again quickly.
Doors from GARANT are also sustainable
Sustainability is also a top priority at GARANT. It is not without reason that GARANT received the FSC®- and PEFC- seals . Because all doors are made only from sustainable wood from controlled forest management. It is important to GARANT that the raw materials are sourced locally. This reduces CO2 emissions and protects the environment and the forest ecosystem.
Find out more here more about our sustainability strategy.
You can find more tips on sustainable behaviour here:
Sustainable management with the cradle-to-cradle principle
Sustainable colours for environmentally conscious interior design