LIGHT GREEN

PRACTICE 06:
2B OR NOT 2B: WOOD VISCOSE
AND SUSTAINABILITY
Carmen Magariños Blanco-R carmen.magarinosb@udc.es
Manuela Campos Neira manuela.campos.neira@udc.es
Inés Magariños Barros ines.magarinos@udc.es
Daniel Noya Paredes d.noyap@udc.es
1. What types of viscose and fabrics can be obtained
from wood?

Rayon (artificial silk): Soft, lightness and is

easy to combine with other materials. From any
tree with resin or from the linter of cotton seed

Modal: Breathable and soft. Very resistant, has

great elasticity and does not deform. It's a
variety of viscose, more waterproof. From
beech pulp

Lyocell/Tencel: Soft, moisture-regulating,

supple and wrinkle regulating. It is obtained
from eucalyptus, oak and birch. It is the most
ecological
2. What types of processes are carried out and which
inputs are necessary?

1. Cellulose is extracted from wood pulp

2. Cellulose is dissolved in caustic soda

3. Alkali cellulose is aged and then treated

with carbon disulfide to create a yellow-
orange solution called viscose

4. Viscose solution is transform to fibers

5. Fibers are converted in yarn

3. What effects do the above processes have on the
environment?

Deforestation: Increased demand for fabrics of

materials of natural origin, many forests are not
managed sustainably
Use of toxic chemicals:
Environment: Discharge into local waterways can
affect ecosystems, fish and organisms
Local population: Can lead to serious health
problems, such as neurological and psychiatric
symptoms, heart attacks and strokes
Countries of production of viscose more polluting:
China
India
Indonesia
 4. How can manufacturers improve the viscose
production process to be sustainable?
Application of the use of the cleanest and
most sustainable production technologies
existing
Viscose produced in a closed circuit:
- zero chemical discharge into the environment
- recycling chemical products used in the
process
Practicing sustainable forestry:
- helping to protect forests from conversion
from agricultural, urban and industrial use
Adequeate treatment of wastewater:
- it would not affect the natural balance of ecosystems
- it would nof affect the workers and inhabitants
exposed to chemical products
Obligation of certificates such as PEFC or FSC:
- guarantee the transparency of management plans
- guarantee the protection of the rights of the people
- strict limits on land conversion from natural forests
5. How do we evaluate and apply them (3Ps) in this case?

Enployment creation
1500 direct jobs and 6500 indirect jobs
Workers are directly exposed to the toxical chemicals in the
fibers

Very large initial investment (950M)

Long-term investment/good profitability

Generate 250000 tones/consume 1.5 million m3

Sustainable? Discard a part in the process

Toxic products and wastes

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