You can find the original interview here; "Focus Sustainability" 2008; a comprehensive report by Lenzing Fibers.
Coral Rose, expert on Sustainable Textiles, talks about her views on sustainability in the 21st century.
What do
you think about Lenzing’s achievements in sustainable management
and
which aspects do you consider to be most essential according to your
experience?
Sustainable innovation is the key
economic driver of the 21st century. Supply chain transparency is one of the basic tenets or “rules
of engagement” for any sustainable business.
Lenzing offers the fiber market what
few, if any, producers of fibers do, and that is both sustainable innovation and full
transparency of the supply chain. One of the most important global issues is “what is the source
of our raw materials? Where were the materials harvested, processed, produced?” This
is a total mindset shift at the textile design level.
Do you
think that the communication of the Lenzing Botanic Principles has been
well
received by the important players in the market?
Lenzing’s Botanic Principles lead us
back to the source of life on the planet, back to nature. They enhance the education of
the market by applying these simple, yet easy to- understand principles. Botanic
Principles connect the lifecycle of nature and sustainability to fiber innovation.
Nature and sustainability are not separable.
I strongly believe Lenzing’s products
are a key component to any sustainable fiber strategy, when considering all the
environmental impacts associated with fiber growing and production. Lenzing
Modal® and TENCEL ® come out on top – practical, applicable and economically
viable to integrate into fiber strategies of
most global organizations.
In
which segments of the industry do you feel Lenzing innovations have been most
visible?
Lenzing places a high priority not only on supply chain transparency and disclosure, but also continual improvement and ongoing research and improvements of their products. Their innovations are especially vital to the activewear market as options to replace high-performance petrol based products, while maintaining quality fiber performance and economical viability. Many activewear brands are also struggling with finding sustainable options for organic cotton as their customers require garments that have excellent moisture management. Lenzing’s fibers offer the market sustainable fiber performance solutions.
Apart
from the more product related aspects, how would you rate the importance of the
more general social and environmental issues in the supply chain? Are customers
prepared to pay
premiums for outstanding performance in these fields?
Fundamentally, social and
environmental issues are business issues, and this concept is part of the core
foundational principles at Lenzing. “People, Planet, Profit” is often used to
describe the triple bottom line and the goal of
sustainability. The fact is that they are all connected and should be thought
of in one globally accepted conversation. Lenzing does just that.
Human rights and environmental
stewardship are inextricably linked. Everybody has the right to a secure,
healthy and ecologically sound environment. We have also seen a huge market
shift to fair trade products, from coffee to cotton, in the last few years.
This is a positive sign that the brands and consumers are willing to pay extra
to ensure that farmers and producers are able to live sustainably.
Lenzing sets very high benchmarks,
where other fiber producers should aspire to. It is a key valued fiber partner
and regards partnerships with the market to be very important. I recently
toured the Modal facility in Lenzing, Austria, and was impressed with the closed
loop system in place and accountability for all inputs and outputs. note;
Believe it or not-that is a picture (above) of the Lenzing facility in
Lenzing, Austria--right out of the "Sound of Music" in fact the Sound
of Music was filmed on the bluff this picture was taken from!!!!!
“Sustainable innovation is the key economic driver of the 21st century. Supply chain transparency is one of the basic tenets for any sustainable business.” Coral Rose
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