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Portuguese company Tearfil played a central role in the development of a new yarn that combines TENCEL™ Lyocell – A100 with biodegradable naNea co-polyester, in collaboration with the Lenzing Group and OceanSafe.
The company produced the yarn, offering a combination of sustainability, premium quality, and high technical performance. “At Tearfil, we embrace all challenges that bring significant progress and genuine value – generating impact across the textile industry and providing tangible benefits to our partners and clients,” the company stated on its LinkedIn page. This recognition reinforces the creativity and excellence of the Portuguese textile industry in developing innovative solutions.
The yarn merges the natural softness and moisture management of TENCEL™ Lyocell – A100 with the durability and quick-drying properties of naNea co-polyester, combining comfort, functionality, and circularity at the end of its life.
It was showcased in a capsule sportswear collection, including women’s yoga apparel, men’s athleisure t-shirts, fleece jackets, and filling materials for outerwear. The collection was first presented at Performance Days in Munich in October and will be showcased tomorrow at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland.
“Choosing responsible materials should be seen as an upgrade, not a compromise,” emphasized Matthias Fuchs, CMO of OceanSafe, in a statement. The yarn provides brands with a practical, scalable solution, enabling them to meet environmental goals without compromising garment performance.
TENCEL™ Lyocell – A100 fibers allow “a reduction in carbon emissions and water consumption of ≥50% compared to generic lyocell,” use FSC® (FSC-C041246) or PEFC certified wood, and are “produced in a closed-loop process with >99.8% solvent recovery,” offering softness, moisture control, and resistance to odor-causing bacteria.
OceanSafe’s naNea co-polyester is made from recycled, bio-based, or virgin raw materials, biodegradable in the ocean within 99 days (>93% according to ASTM D6691-17), meets Cradle to Cradle® Certified Gold standards, is produced with 50% renewable energy in the final stage with energy savings in dyeing, is recyclable, does not release persistent microplastics, and provides a soft touch, absorbency, quick drying, durability, and easy maintenance.
The launch of the capsule sportswear collection is just the first step in demonstrating the yarn’s versatility and performance, which, beyond apparel, has potential applications in footwear, home textiles, bags, and technical textiles.