Business & Policy

Lenzing publishes its online Sustainability Report 2022 under the heading “Advancing Circularity.”

Published: April 3, 2023
Author: DIGITAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE

Lenzing is clearly on course to meet the group-wide carbon neutrality target 

Top ratings from CDP, MSCI, EcoVadis and Canopy: Lenzing receives multiple “sustainability champion”  awards once again 

Lenzing – The Lenzing Group, a world-leading provider of specialty fibers for the textile and nonwoven  industries, has published its Sustainability Report 2022 today. The title of “Advancing Circularity” underlines the  company’s efforts to drive forward the transformation from a linear to a circular business model in the textile  and nonwoven industries. The report was produced in accordance with the standards of the Global Reporting  Initiative (GRI) and the Austrian Sustainability and Diversity Improvement Act (NaDiVeG), and was audited by  KPMG Austria GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft. 

“Sustainability is a core component of our business strategy. This report details our combined achievements in  environmental, economic and social aspects and our continuous commitment to creating a future in which  circularity is the norm. You are warmly invited to take a look at our Sustainability Report 2022 and share your  thoughts with us,” says Robert van de Kerkhof, Member of the Managing Board at Lenzing Group.  

New corporate strategy: “Better Growth” 

A comprehensive review of the corporate strategy was also conducted in the reporting year. “Better Growth”  was designed as a roadmap for the next five years with a focus on maintaining a leading role in the field of  sustainable specialty fibers in an unpredictable economic environment. As a company, Lenzing has the dual  aim of being commercially successful and providing a positive contribution to society. Consequently, Lenzing  will continue to pursue its profitable growth path following the successful implementation of the two key projects  in Thailand and Brazil, sharpen its focus on sustainable and high-quality premium fibers for textiles and  nonwovens, and further advance the transition from a linear to a circular business model. 

Aiming for a carbon-neutral future  

Lenzing also made further progress in meeting its climate targets in the reporting year. The launch of the new  lyocell plant in Prachinburi (Thailand) in March marked a key milestone on Lenzing’s path to achieving net-zero  emissions by 2050. The site is wholly powered by sustainable energy derived from biomass and is the largest  of its kind in lyocell fiber production. Lenzing also began to convert its site in Nanjing (China) to green  electricity in September. As of 2023, the site is almost entirely powered by green electricity, which will reduce  carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes annually.  

The new pulp mill in Brazil, which feeds surplus bioenergy into the Brazilian grid, represents the largest  investment that Lenzing has ever made in dissolving wood pulp supply for wood-based fiber production. This  has led to further investments in sustainable plantations that provide the requisite raw materials. In 2023,  70,000 hectares of a sustainably managed plantation will be required to ensure stable production in the long  term. Lenzing was already highly successful in this regard in 2022, achieving 57,000 hectares by the end of the  year. This will allow Lenzing to make further progress in meeting its climate targets by minimizing the  environmental risks involved in procuring raw materials. 

The installation of the largest ground-mounted photovoltaic system in Upper Austria at the Lenzing site marked  another strategic milestone for the company in October 2022. The system converts sunlight into electricity,  which is one of the most cost-effective means of producing green energy. Lenzing also signed an electricity  supply contract with the green electricity producer Enery and Energie Steiermark to construct another  photovoltaic system in Styria, Austria. The electricity produced will begin supplying the Lenzing site at the end  of 2023. 

Lenzing remains a “sustainability champion” 

Three global sustainability rating agencies recognized Lenzing’s unwavering commitment to reducing its  carbon footprint as well as its efforts to meet the United Nations’ sustainable development goals in 2022.  

Of the 15,000 companies scored worldwide by the non-profit organization CDP, Lenzing was one of only  twelve to be awarded an A rating for environmentally responsible management in three categories (climate  change, water security and forestry) in December 2022. MSCI confirmed the company’s AA rating in the same  month on the basis of its strong performance relative to the sector average.  

EcoVadis awarded platinum status to Lenzing, ranking it among the top one percent of all companies rated  worldwide in this sector. Its extensive evaluation recognized Lenzing’s efforts in the four main areas of

corporate social responsibility, the environment, fair working conditions and human rights, ethics and  sustainable procurement.  

In addition, Lenzing took first place in Canopy’s Hot Button ranking. The Canadian non-governmental  organization assesses global producers of cellulosic fibers with regard to responsible wood and pulp  procurement, innovation and traceability. Canopy’s ranking also evaluates the companies’ use of alternative  commodities as well as their achievements in protecting ancient and endangered forests. The Hot Button  ranking confirms that Lenzing’s practices are sustainably anchored.  

Lenzing also took second place in the Transformational Climate Change Solutions category of the Financial  Times 2022 Transformational Business Awards. The highly efficient pulp mill of the LD Cellulose joint venture  in Brazil received a special commendation for its contribution to a more sustainable textile industry by providing  the necessary pulp to produce wood-based fibers.

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