In 2020, China, the world’s largest textile-producing country, committed to a 2060 goal of becoming carbon neutral. As China is responsible for almost half of the world’s textile production and export[1], this will be no small feat. From sustainable textile production, recycling initiatives and using low environmental impact materials, close collaboration with industry partners will be essential to make this eco-friendly future a reality.

For many Chinese fashion and textiles brands, collaboration in the name of sustainability is nothing new. The TENCEL™ brand has shared a strong history with eco-friendly partners in China since the brand’s origins over 30 years ago. Each sharing a like-minded vision for building a more environmental friendly future, these partners use TENCEL™ branded fibers in their products to drive a more sustainable production chain for their business.

In addition, through TENCEL™’s revolutionary carbon-zero TENCEL™ branded fibers, Chinese fashion and textile brands are able to launch pioneering collaborations designed to fundamentally reduce and ultimately eradicate their impact on the environment.

China’s leading home textiles company LUOLAI launched their first carbon-zero products made with carbon-zero TENCEL™ fibers in 2021. “We worked closely with TENCEL™ to create a fabric made with carbon-zero TENCEL™ fibers,” says Weiming Tong, LUOLAI’s Brands & Products General Manager. “TENCEL™ fibers help us to create super soft textiles whilst providing consumers and society with a wider variety of environmentally friendly products.”

A longstanding TENCEL™ brand partner since 1994, LUOLAI’s collaborative textiles are a favorite among consumers. “We use TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers to produce our textiles, as its fiber characteristics are very consistent with what consumers expect from super soft bedding. Our home textile products made with TENCEL™ fibers have been highly praised by LUOLAI franchises and consumers,” adds Tong.

Throughout their enduring partnership, LUOLAI’s environmental goals have never changed. “TENCEL™ has always been a global industry leader with established forward-looking sustainability goals and the brand has provided green material solutions for LUOLAI. We hope to always keep our original intention and work together with TENCEL™ to create healthier and greener products for China’s home textile industry and consumers,” says Tong.

Over the last 30 years, the TENCEL™ brand’s family of partners has continued to grow. In 2019, leading lingerie and underwear manufacturer AIMER joined forces with TENCEL™. AIMER has always been a brand with a strong environmental track record. The brand exclusively produces its garments at a national green factory, which uses solar panels to generate electricity. The factory even provides surplus energy back to the grid.

Zhou Hai Hua, Director of AIMER’s Supply Chain Center, says the partnership with TENCEL™ has helped the brand strengthen its eco-friendly reputation even further. “Building a sustainable ecosystem is a key tenant of our mission at AIMER,” says Zhou. “TENCEL™ fibers use less energy in their production process, helping us create more environmentally friendly products for consumers. These characteristics are very consistent with our own environmental protection goals.”

AIMER has already introduced its first carbon-zero project with TENCEL™. Dubbed AIMER RENEW, the collection for children and men features carbon-zero TENCEL™ fibers. The collection launched in 2021 alongside two pop-up stores and was designed to better educate consumers on the benefits of carbon neutrality.

AIMER believes the new collection and educational pop-up stores are key to increasing awareness amongst consumers. “By promoting green protection to consumers, we can jointly pay attention to the natural environment and contribute to low-carbon environmental protection,” says Zhou.

As China’s fashion and textile industry decarbonizes, the TENCEL™ brand is excited to work with more partners in China to help co-create a carbon-neutral future.

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[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/236397/value-of-the-leading-global-textile-exporters-by-country/#:~:text=China%20is%20the%20largest%20textile,amongst%20Chinas's%20top%20export%20goods