Viscose
Viscose / Rayon is the first generation regenerated cellulosic fiber, which is an artificial textile material composed of regenerated and purified cellulose derived from plant sources. Viscose is the globally recognized term for the fiber, because the process of extruding the fiber is the viscose process – where the dissolved wood pulp is a viscose material. Rayon is described as a regenerated fibre because the cellulose, obtained from soft woods or from the short fibres (linters) that adhere to cottonseeds, is converted to a liquid compound, squeezed through tiny holes in a device called a spinnerette, and then converted back to cellulose in the form of fibre. The difference between Viscose and Rayon is purely the name which this fiber is called in the US versus the rest of the world.
For a MMCF, different machinery and chemistry used in the manufacturing process will render a different type of fiber. There are clearly variations in strength and softness with different sustainability impacts due to the production process. Wood-Based Cellulosic fibers have gained popularity as a blending partner due to favorable benefits.
LENZING™ ECOVERO™ has a much lower environmental impact than generic viscose, as confirmed by the Higg MSI*, leaving air and water cleaner. LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibers are certified with the EU Ecolabel.