Lenzing Group Gets USDA’s Biobased Product Label for Biochemicals

In Austria, the Lenzing Group, a producer of botanic cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, received a biobased certificate, or Biobased Product Label, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its acetic acid, furfural and magnesium lignosulfonate. The three biochemicals are produced in Lenzing Group’s biorefinery and are derived from the pulp production process in their Austria and Czech Republic facilities. The food-grade acetic acid is often used in the food industry, the furfural is used as a solvent in lubrication oil refining, and magnesium lignosulfonate is often used in animal food or fertilizers. Their TENCEL, Modal, and Viscose fibers were USDA Biobased certified previously, but this additional certification further demonstrates that Lenzing’s biochemicals are indeed derived from a natural biomaterial, with wood as the raw material.