Lyocell (or Tencel) is an eco-friendly fabric obtained from Eucalyptus tree pulp, and is currently considered as the artificial cellulosic fiber absolute most compatible with the environment. Unlike what is done with fibers such as those yielded by the cotton plant, the wood pulp of the Eucalyptus tree is turned into a cellulose based viscose that is extruded through a spinneret. The long fibers issuing from nozzles are spun and woven into Tencel, a soft, light and transpiring quality. The whole process requires large use of energy in the transformation phase, to produce a soft fiber resembling honey for its consistency, which hardens as it goes through the spinneret.
Its main features are excellent strength, good transpiration and absorption of humidity. Lyocell can easily stand temperatures up to 40°C, it has a very soft hand feel, and besides a smooth, shiny, lustrous surface.
The production process involves little pollution, the solvents used are nontoxic and even completely recyclable. Lyocell is a biodegradable fiber, which favours the ecosystem, and all of this results into a valued material, often utilized by very many textile industries.