What is Modal and how is it made?

Modal belongs to the family of regenerated fibers and is obtained from 100% natural cellulose from beech wood. Some processes for the production of modal are very resource-intensive. That's why we chose TENCEL™ Modal from Lenzing in Austria. The company relies on a more ecologically sound and environmentally friendly bleaching process - Eco Clean technology. This is based on oxygen-based chemistry, which is more environmentally friendly than the conventional alternative. 

Beech wood from sustainable forestry (FSC & PEFC certified) which cannot be used for higher quality processing (e.g. furniture) is used for the production of Modal. In the first step, the tree trunks are debarked, shredded and converted into a spinnable material with the help of chemical processes. The fibers, packed in bales, are shipped to spinning mills and processed into yarn. They are then knitted or woven.

How sustainable is Modal?

TENCEL™ Modal is a sustainably produced fiber. Lenzing uses beech wood, more than 99% of which comes from sustainably managed forests in Austria and Europe (FSC® and/or PEFC™ certified or controlled). 

Beech trees are also known as the "mother of the forest", because the trees are deep-rooted and naturally soil improvers and particularly resistant to pests. In addition, there is no need for artificial irrigation or the use of pesticides. Unlike synthetic fibers, such as polyester, which is based on petroleum, modal is made from a renewable resource. Modal also comes out ahead in comparison to purely natural materials: fewer resources (e.g. water) are required in production and processing than in the cultivation and processing of cotton, for example. 

Environmentally friendly production processes are used to manufacture TENCEL™ Modal, in which there are high recovery rates of process chemicals and attention is paid to minimizing wastewater and emissions. Sodium sulfate or soda ash, for example, are formed as by-products, which in turn are used in the detergent, glass and food industries. Lenzing thus embeds various elements of the circular economy into its business model. Thanks to the dimensional stability already mentioned, Modal textiles are particularly durable - which also pays dividends in terms of sustainability. Because what doesn't break, stays.

Modal in erlich textil products

Lenzing® Modal with Eco Clean technology is the most suitable option for our textiles, as it comes closest to our concept of sustainability: from raw material and pulp extraction to production, everything takes place at one site in a process that conserves energy and resources. For our erlich textil products, the modal fiber is spun into yarn, dyed and knitted into fine jersey in Turkey. The fabric is then sent to our producer in the Swabian Alb and cut to size there. Finally, the erlich textil products are sewn in Romania.