"Tencel has, similar to merino wool, the function of cooling in heat and warming in cold. This optimally regulates body temperature."
Wood is the source of the Tencel fiber, which is also known as Lyocell. This environmentally friendly synthetic fiber made from a renewable raw material is derived from cellulose. How Tencel works in detail and why it is a very exciting fiber specifically for cycling clothing can be found on this page.
Facts zu Tencel
Grade for the sports sector impresses with exciting features:
✓ Silky soft fiber
✓ Robust
✓ Abrasion-resistant
✓ Provides a cooling effect in heat and a warming effect in cold
✓ Very good moisture transport
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TENCEL is MADE FROM WOOD
Tencel is made from cellulose, which must be extracted from the raw material wood. This requires the binding agent lignin, which holds the cellulose together in the wood, and the contained water to be dissolved. To do this, the wood is first processed into wood chips, mixed with water, and cooked under heat and pressure like in a pressure cooker. The so-called pulp is created. This is first dried into sheets. In the next step, this dried cellulose is again heated under pressure together with water and chemicals.
After a short time, the clear spinning solution is formed in this phase. The spinning solution is then pressed through spinnerets. Endless, extremely thin fibers are created, which are washed again. After that, the fibers are dried again. At this point, fiber bundles of unsorted filaments are formed. These are sorted and shaped through further processes to spin them into a Tencel yarn in the next steps.
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Is Tencel ecological?
Although the Tencel fiber is an industrially produced material, the manufacturing process is very environmentally friendly. On the one hand, because the raw material is derived from eucalyptus wood, which comes from sustainably managed forests, grows very quickly, requires no pesticides, and relies on existing rainwater – thus needing no additional irrigation.
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The sustainability of the Tencel fiber has been scientifically studied and confirmed by Utrecht University. This is due, on the one hand, to the biological origin of the fiber and, on the other hand, to the particularly environmentally friendly manufacturing process of the company Lenzing.
Advantages of the Beech Tree as a Raw Material:
- CO2 binding during the growth of trees contributes to the relief of the planet.
- Natural resistance to pests and environmental influences due to deep roots
- Natural rain irrigation is sufficient
- Reproduction without human intervention
- Local fiber production in Austria. From the raw material wood through pulp production to fiber production, all stages of fiber manufacturing are located at the same site.
Advantages of the manufacturing process of the company Lenzing:
Thanks to their innovative manufacturing processes, the company Lenzing enables a sustainable circular economy and recovers a large part of the resources used.
- Origin of the wood from ecological and sustainable forestry in Austria
- Transparent design of the value chain
- High recovery rates of used process chemicals (up to 95%)
- Minimization of wastewater and emission loads
- Formation of sodium sulfate as a co-product. - -- This "waste product" is used in the detergent, glass, and food industries.
Production in a circular system
On the other hand, the cycle in which the biodegradable solvent is used is closed. 99.5% of the chemicals are permanently reused in the Tencel processing process. For the development of this environmentally friendly process, the company Lenzing AG received the "European Award for the Environment" from the European Union.
Moreover, the process uses only one-twentieth of the water needed for cotton production. Also great: TencelTM, like merino wool, is a natural material and decomposes completely in compost.
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The inner functions of Tencel?
Tencel is a silky soft fiber that is also abrasion-resistant, making it quite robust. The key lies in its internal function. Like Merino wool, Tencel has the ability to cool when it's hot and warm when it's cold. This optimally regulates body temperature. Additionally, the fibril structure of the fiber, meaning the tiny hairs on the fiber surface, ensures that sweat and moisture are transported away from the skin. Furthermore, Tencel is antibacterial. Therefore, sweat odor is not an issue even after intense use. This makes its application particularly exciting in summer cycling jerseys.
Merino meets Tencel?
Why is a mix of merino wool and Tencel so good? Tencel is often processed into a fabric with merino. This is mainly because Tencel and merino have very similar properties and support each other, so to speak. For example, Tencel makes a merino cycling jersey more durable, even softer, supports temperature regulation, and like merino, is of natural origin and therefore decomposes in home compost. That’s why triple2 uses Tencel in its merino jerseys from the series ,nul‘. Did you know: Laboratory tests have shown that blended fabrics of merino and Tencel feel 20 percent cooler than T-shirts made of pure merino wool.
How do I wash Tencel products?
Since Tencel is a very fine fabric, it naturally requires special care. It is best to wash your TRIPLE2 style made of Tencel at 30-40°C, preferably in a wool or gentle wash cycle with a mild detergent.
"Detergents with bleaching effects should be avoided, as this can lead to an irreparable white discoloration of the fabric. Additionally, you should make sure to turn the garment inside out before washing. Scarves, belts, or other accessories, where this is not possible, should only be washed when absolutely necessary. After washing, it is important to immediately remove the Tencel style from the washing machine so that it can dry properly!"
In principle: Look at the care label. Especially with blended fabrics containing merino wool, lower temperatures and different washing cycles are often required.
Advantages of TENCEL over cotton and other fibers
Compared to cotton fiber, Tencel is more elastic, durable, and shape-retaining. Additionally, it has a higher strength, wrinkles less, and therefore does not require ironing.
Advantages at a glance:
- More ecological, local, and resource-saving cultivation.
- No need for fertilizers. - Shorter transport routes.
- No artificial irrigation needed.
- The water consumption for irrigating Tencel is 10 to 20 times lower than that of conventional cotton cultivation.
- In addition, a large part of the water is used solely for cooling purposes and is returned to the surface waters unpolluted.
- Recovery of by-products in the manufacturing process.
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