When we talk about sustainable fashion, certain names come up often: recycled wool, organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled cotton, linen... However, an artificial fiber made from wood pulp is gaining more and more ground in the textile industry: Tencel™ Lyocell.
Still relatively unknown to the general public, Tencel combines softness, breathability, durability, and low environmental impact. Its manufacturing process operates almost entirely in a closed loop, drastically reducing its impact, which strongly distinguishes it from conventional viscose.
Table of Contents
- What is Tencel and how is it made?
- Where does Tencel come from?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of Tencel?
- Is Tencel more ecological than organic cotton?
- Is Tencel biodegradable?
- What about end-of-life?
- Performance and comfort: what is this fiber really worth?
- How to care for Tencel textiles?
- What types of clothing is Tencel suitable for?
- Tencel vs Ecovero: what are the differences?
- Conclusion
If you don't want to read everything:
📖 Tencel™ Lyocell is an artificial fiber made from wood pulp from sustainably managed forests certified FSC or PEFC.
♻️ Its manufacturing process operates in a closed loop: over 99% of the solvent used is recycled, drastically reducing chemical waste compared to conventional viscose.
💧 Tencel consumes much less water than cotton, including organic cotton, and requires less agricultural land.
🌍 It is biodegradable, does not release microplastics when washed, and has very advanced traceability thanks to Lenzing, its main manufacturer.
👕 It is a very soft, breathable, resistant, and comfortable material, particularly suitable for sensitive skin.
🧵 Tencel absorbs more moisture than cotton, dries quickly, and limits odors.
🔄 Very similar to Ecovero in its ecological approach, Tencel however uses a more advanced process and generally offers better technical performance.
What is Tencel and how is it made?
Tencel™ is an artificial textile fiber made from cellulose, a molecule naturally present in plants. In the case of Tencel, this cellulose primarily comes from eucalyptus, beech, or birch wood.
Technically, the fiber is called Lyocell. Tencel™ is the trade name given by Lenzing, the Austrian company that produces it.
Tencel therefore belongs to the family of regenerated cellulosic fibers, like viscose or modal. The big difference is its much cleaner manufacturing process.
Where conventional viscose requires many steps and several problematic chemicals, Lyocell relies on a simpler process: dissolution of wood pulp, spinning, washing, and then drying.
The solvent used, called NMMO, dissolves the cellulose. It is then recovered and reused at more than 99% in a closed-loop system. This significantly reduces chemical waste and resource consumption.
Where does Tencel come from?
For our Tencel, we work with a Portuguese company that partners with Lenzing, based in Austria.
The wood used to produce this fiber primarily comes from four European Union countries: Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Lenzing claims to source only from "non-controversial" areas, with wood from controlled sources. The forests are certified FSC or PEFC, two labels that govern sustainable forest management.
The FSC label imposes strict criteria on biodiversity protection, responsible management of forest resources, and respect for local populations.
The PEFC label operates more on a principle of continuous improvement in forest management. It is widely present in Europe and adapted to the realities of local forest operations.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Tencel?
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Very soft and pleasant on the skin | More expensive than conventional cotton or conventional viscose |
| Good breathability and excellent moisture management | Requires gentle care to preserve the fiber |
| Closed-loop process with over 99% recycled solvent | Still less common than cotton in some production chains |
| Consumes less water and less land than cotton | Sector heavily dependent on Lenzing, its main manufacturer |
| Biodegradable when not mixed with synthetic fibers | May lose some of its ecological benefits if mixed with polyester or elastane |
Is Tencel more ecological than organic cotton?
Organic cotton remains a very good alternative to conventional cotton, especially because it avoids the use of synthetic pesticides. But on certain criteria, Tencel can go even further.
Water consumption
Tencel stands out for its relatively low water consumption. The trees used require little irrigation, and the manufacturing process allows for a large part of the water used to be recycled.
| Fiber | Water needed per kg of fiber |
|---|---|
| Tencel™ Lyocell | Around 600 to 800 L |
| Organic cotton | Around 2500 to 5000 L depending on agricultural conditions |
To produce the equivalent of a t-shirt, Tencel can therefore consume much less water than cotton. This is one of its strongest arguments from an environmental point of view.
Land use
The trees used for Tencel can grow on land not well suited for food agriculture, with a high yield per hectare.
Organic cotton protects soils better than conventional cotton but requires more agricultural land.
Chemical products
Tencel uses a solvent that is over 99% recycled, which greatly limits discharges into the environment.
Organic cotton avoids synthetic pesticides, which is very positive. However, the dyeing, finishing, and manufacturing steps can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer.
Traceability
Tencel is produced by a highly controlled sector, mainly by Lenzing. This facilitates the traceability of the raw material and the transformation process.
Organic cotton depends on many farms, regions, and certifications. Its traceability can therefore be more complex to guarantee.
Is Tencel biodegradable?
Yes, Tencel is biodegradable when used pure, without mixing with synthetic fibers.
Lenzing has certifications confirming that some of its fibers can biodegrade in different environments: soil, fresh water, marine environment, home compost, and industrial compost.
A study conducted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography also showed that wood-based cellulosic fibers could biodegrade in the marine environment much faster than synthetic fibers.
However, be careful: this concerns the raw fiber. If the garment contains elastane, polyester, or specific treatments, its end-of-life will necessarily be different.
And what about Tencel's end-of-life?
This is one of Tencel's great strengths: unlike polyester or nylon, it does not generate microplastics during washing.
At the end of its life, several options exist.
- Biodegradation: under good conditions, the fiber can decompose naturally.
- Mechanical recycling: the fabric is shredded and then reintegrated into new textiles.
- Chemical recycling: fibers are dissolved to produce a new fiber of equivalent quality, although this solution is still rarely used on a large scale.
Lenzing is also developing several initiatives around the recycling of cellulosic fibers, particularly to integrate more recycled materials into its future productions.
Tencel Lyocell Performance and Comfort
Tencel is not only interesting for its environmental impact. It is also a very high-performing fiber for everyday wear.
Good resistance
Tencel is more resistant than conventional viscose, especially when wet. It retains much of its strength when washed, which limits tearing, premature wear, and deformation.
Excellent moisture management
Tencel absorbs more moisture than cotton and effectively transfers it to the outside.
Result: it helps to limit odors, improves comfort, and better regulates body temperature. It is a particularly interesting fiber for clothes worn close to the body.
A soft material for the skin
One might think that a wood-based fiber might be scratchy. In reality, it's quite the opposite.
The wood pulp is completely dissolved and then transformed into a very fine and very smooth thread. The result is often softer than cotton, with a feel close to silk or high-end viscose.
Thanks to its softness and good moisture management, Tencel can be a good alternative for people with sensitive skin.
How to care for Tencel textiles?
Tencel is resistant, but it deserves gentle care to maintain all its qualities over time.
- Wash at 30°C or cold with a mild detergent.
- Prefer a delicate cycle.
- Avoid tumble drying.
- Air dry.
- Iron at a moderate temperature if necessary.
As often with responsible materials, the better you care for it, the longer it lasts.
What types of clothing is Tencel suitable for?
Thanks to its breathable, soft, fluid, and resistant properties, Tencel is particularly suitable for:
- t-shirts,
- tops,
- light dresses and skirts,
- fluid pants,
- underwear,
- nightwear,
- summer clothes,
- bed linen.
It is also very interesting for clothes worn close to the body, as it breathes well, dries quickly, and remains pleasant on the skin.
Tencel vs Ecovero: what are the differences?
At Lucid, we already use a fiber quite similar to Tencel in our women's tops: Ecovero.
Both materials have several common points: they are made from wood cellulose, come from sustainably managed forests, are produced by Lenzing, and offer a soft, fluid, and pleasant feel.
The main difference lies in the manufacturing process.
Tencel Lyocell uses a closed-loop process with over 99% recycled solvent. Ecovero, on the other hand, is a more responsible viscose than conventional viscose, but its process is less closed than that of Tencel.
Ecovero is often used for very light, fluid, and soft garments. This is what makes our PULSE tops so pleasant to wear.
Tencel therefore generally remains more interesting from a technical and environmental point of view, but Ecovero remains an excellent alternative to traditional viscoses and cotton.
Conclusion
Tencel™ Lyocell ticks all the boxes for a modern, ecological, and comfortable textile. It represents a real step forward towards more responsible fashion and offers very interesting technical properties:
- 🌍 Reduced environmental impact
- 💧 Less water consumption
- ❌ No toxic solvents
- 👕 Unrivaled daily comfort
- ♻️ Biodegradability at end of life
In a world where every garment counts, choosing Tencel means supporting a cleaner, more ethical, and future-oriented textile industry. At Lucid, we'll definitely be incorporating it into our wardrobe very soon.
If you want to see the other pieces we already offer, feel free to browse our collection, and if you want to see our Tencel and recycled cotton t-shirts or our Ecovero tops, which are very similar to Tencel, don't hesitate!
Sources
- Canopy. (2020). Independent audit of Lenzing raw material sourcing. Canopy. https://canopyplanet.org
- Centexbel. (2025). Eco-design guide: Cellulosic fibres and environmental indicators. Centexbel.
- Eichhorn, S. J., & Young, R. J. (2005). Cellulose: Structure, properties and applications. Cambridge University Press.
- Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. (2025). Environmental sustainability of cotton: A systematic life cycle assessment review. Elsevier.
- Lenzing AG. (2023). TENCEL™ Lyocell production process overview. Lenzing AG.
- Lenzing AG. (2025). Certificates and evaluations. https://www.lenzing.com/people-planet/certificates-evaluations
- Müssig, J. (Ed.). (2010). Industrial applications of natural fibres: Structure, properties and technical applications. Wiley.
- Pingio Home. (2024). Tencel vs cotton: Comparative sustainability analysis.
- ScienceDirect. (2025). Life-cycle impacts of organic cotton farming: A review.
- Shen, L., Worrell, E., & Patel, M. K. (2010). Environmental impact assessment of man-made cellulose fibres. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 55(2), 260–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.10.001
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography. (2021). World-renowned marine research institute confirms biodegradability of Lenzing fibers. https://b2b.tencel.com/news-and-events/world-renowned-marine-research-institute-confirms-biodegradability-of-lenzing-fibers
- Woodings, C. (2001). Regenerated cellulose fibres. Woodhead Publishing.
- Forest Stewardship Council. (s.d.). The FSC Principles and Criteria. https://fr.fsc.org/fr-fr/notre-systeme/les-principes-et-criteres-fsc
- PEFC France. (s.d.). PEFC Certification. https://www.pefc-france.org/la-certification-pefc/
