The independent testing and certification system OEKO-TEX presented its Sustainability Award in the category Product Innovation to fiber manufacturer Lenzing within the context of a special gala award ceremony.
News of the prize reached Lenzing AG shortly after its anniversary celebrations held under the motto “75 Years of Innovation”, and once again emphasized the company’s innovative strength.
The seven-person jury, comprising representatives of the OEKO-TEX community, NGOs, industry and research as well as associations and the trade press, justified its selection by stating: “Lenzing AG is a model example of how to achieve and expand global leadership in innovation and technology through a consistent focus on innovation and close cooperation with research institutes and universities.
For many years Lenzing has shown outstanding achievements in the field of pioneering and innovative fibers which have repeatedly set standards worldwide with regard to comfort, functionality and processing modifications. The best example for this is the development of the lyocell fiber TENCEL, which has become firmly established in the meantime due to its ideal properties and functions as well as its wide range of applications for the textile & nonwovens industries.”
“In the field of environmental technology, the company also manages to impressively convey its company philosophy with a focus on sustainability. To achieve this, all manufacturing processes were independently developed by Lenzing AG and are subject to continuous optimization”, the jury continued in specifying the reasons for giving the first OEKO-TEX prize in this category to Lenzing.
Andreas Dorner, who has global responsibility for textile marketing at Lenzing, and Wolfgang Plasser, General Manager & Vice President Nonwoven Fibers, accepted the prize on the company’s behalf. “This award is particularly valuable, not least because the OEKO-TEX community has a detailed insight into what is happening in the industry, and can accurately assess which companies deserve the awards thanks to long and intensive cooperation with some 10,000 companies”, says
Andreas Dorner. “Certifications also play a key role in the nonwovens segment. Quality is of the utmost importance in many of our end applications, especially disposable products with direct skin contact, such as hygienic or baby products, but also in the medical segment", adds Wolfgang Plasser.
“The customers along the nonwovens processing chain demand individual, innovative solutions which can be disposed of after use with a good conscience. The OEKO-TEX Sustainability Award once again underlines the fact that Lenzing in its role as a raw material supplier is the ideal partner from the very beginning.”
“Lenzing manufactures products from the raw material wood in an environmentally responsible manner. Lenzing has set new standards for the entire cellulose fiber industry on the basis of sustainable process improvements and its success in largely closing chemical cycles as well as the use of state-of-the-art wastewater and exhaust air purification processes”, explains Lenzing’s Chief Executive Officer Peter Untersperger.
“I am happy that these achievements have been honored by OEKO-TEX at precisely the same time as our 75th anniversary. I believe that all our employees who have collaborated on this can be proud of this award”.
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an independent testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production (e.g. fibers, yarns, fabrics and ready-made articles including accessories). The Sustainability Award was granted in the five categories of Environmental Management, Quality Management, Social Responsibility, Safety Management and Product Innovation.
