Lenzing Commits to Paris Agreement, Sets Aggressive Emission Reduction Targets

Alexandra Harrell
·3 min read

Lenzing is now the first—and only—regenerated cellulosic fibers producer with a scientifically confirmed net-zero target.

The Tencel lyocell manufacturer updated its climate targets to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) reviewed and signed off on the target improvement.

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“At Lenzing, we have the ambition to positively change the textile and nonwovens industries,”  Stephan Sielaff, CEO of the Lenzing Group, said. “This is precisely what makes a noticeable difference to other companies and is also the basis for long-term success.”

By 2030, Lenzing hopes to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42 percent as well as its Scope 3 emissions by 25 percent on the road to net zero, against a 2021 baseline. This would result in an absolute reduction of 1.1 million tons of Co2 released into the atmosphere instead of the previous target of 700,000 tons.

“We set ourselves ambitious goals and pursue concrete measures to achieve them,” Sielaff said. “This enables us to continuously increase our resilience to external influences such as the energy crisis and, on the other hand, to better meet the growing customer demand for eco-responsible products.”

STBi recognized and confirmed several targets, including overall, near-term and long-term goals. These updated targets replace the previously STBi-approved goals from 2019, which were set against a 2017 baseline.

Lenzing’s overall commitment is to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain by 2050. The Austrian group’s near-term goals include reducing its direct emissions from the production of its fiber and pulp plants (Scope 1) as well as its emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) by 42 percent by 2030. The cellulose wood-based fiber producer also aims to reduce its indirect emissions throughout the value chain (Scope 3) by 25 percent in that same timeframe. Lenzing’s long-term goals include reducing absolute Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions by 90 percent by 2050 against that 2021 baseline. This also includes land-related emissions and extraction from bioenergy feedstocks.

To achieve these goals, Lenzing is making some serious moves.

The Ganni collaborator has made “considerable investments” in converting and modernizing its Asian production sites; China and Indonesia facilities will utilize grid electricity from 100 percent renewable sources, while Lenzing is “accelerating” the switch to green energy at those plants. Meanwhile, in Austria, the ITMF award winner is investing in energy independence and acquired a biomass power plant to supply its lyocell plant in Burgenland with renewable energy.

“With our reduction targets, we are making a decisive contribution to meet the 1.5-degree limit, which must be the benchmark for our corporate decision-making and actions,” Christian Skilich, chief pulp officer and chief technology officer of the Lenzing Group, said. “We will continue to invest in energy savings and new technological developments and therefore I am confident that we are on the right track toward achieving our net-zero target by 2050.”