Cellulose and Sustainability: How Viscose-Rayon Manufacturers Go Green

Viscose is popular for many reasons, not the least of which is its affordability and versatility. It is relatively inexpensive, highly versatile, breathable, good for draping, not to mention good at retaining colors, absorbent, smooth, and light.  Simply put, there’s a lot to love about viscose, particularly now that industry leaders like Sateri are taking it in a green and sustainable direction.  To understand the difference that companies like Sateri are making, it is important to first understand what viscose is and how it is made.  The name “viscose” sounds like “viscous”, and that’s because this fabric is made from a thick organic soup of wood pulp. That pulp contains large quantities of cellulose, an all-natural, organic molecule that makes up the key component in the walls of plants. In the past, viscose has created some controversy with regard to sustainability concerns. Although it is made from an organic material, wood pulp, it has to undergo treatment with a variety of chemicals.  There have also been concerns about the sourcing of the wood converted into wood pulp to make viscose.  Industry-leading manufacturers like Sateri have been taking viscose manufacturing in a green direction with a combination of responsible sourcing and powerful new innovations to conserve energy and materials.  Sateri sources the wood for its viscose only from sustainably-managed plantations of fast-maturing eucalyptus trees. These trees take between 5 and 7 years to reach maturity, meaning they can be readily replaced.  The company has also promised not to source wood pulp from natural, ancient, or endangered forests. The plantations where its eucalyptus is grown can be rapidly reforested at need. In addition to sustainable sourcing, Sateri has also been an innovator in other ways. The company has four viscose mills in China, some of the most modern and new anywhere in the world.  The environmental systems at Sateri’s mills maximize efficiency and minimize waste during the manufacturing process. The company is able to recycle and reuse most of its chemicals and water.  The result is a fabric that looks like silk, feels soft as cotton, and has a high degree of comfort, breathability, and absorbency. Sateri’s viscose yarn is an excellent material for everything from underwear and baby clothing to skirts, shirts, and dresses, all of them soft on the skin.  It is also excellent for bed sheets, towels, tablecloths, napkins, furniture covers, curtains, and drapes.  Sateri’s commitment to responsibility includes everything from sourcing to the manufacturing process to the communities in which it operates. In addition to creating jobs, Sateri donates library books, helps with disaster relief, supports cultural activities and conducts environmental awareness training.  In the ongoing effort to clean up the textile and fashion industry, Sateri and other innovative manufacturers of viscose rayon are showing how to go green at every step of production and beyond.