LENZING AG - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Supervisory Board of Lenzing Group, a supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, has appointed Rohit Aggarwal as a new member of the Management Board of Lenzing Group. He will assume responsibility for the fiber division during the third quarter. After the departure of Stephan Sielaff, Aggarwal will take over the position of CEO of Lenzing Group. Rohit Aggarwal is a strategic business economist and pioneer in the industry with several decades of experience in leading positions in the textile and chemical industry. He has a sound understanding of the strategic development of international markets and the establishment of efficient management teams through global management positions in Europe, the USA and Asia. Thanks to his experience in the global textile and fiber market, he is well versed with Lenzing's core business in all its facets, both in terms of content and geography. Environmentally friendly fibers Stephan Sielaff, CEO of Lenzing Group, will leave the company at the latest when his contract expires at the end of March 2025 and devote himself to new tasks. After the departure of Stephan Sielaff, Aggarwal will take over the position of CEO of Lenzing Group Cord Prinzhorn, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Lenzing Group: “First and foremost, I would like to thank Stephan Sielaff, who steered the company through an extraordinarily challenging phase, marked by multiple crises, with a steady and tireless hand. With Rohit Aggarwal, we have gained an international leader with profound knowledge of the textile markets, from raw materials to the processing of environmentally friendly fibers. On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I am pleased that we have successfully appointed Rohit Aggarwal as a member of the Managing Board for the fiber division, and subsequently as Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group.” Sustainable fiber industry Stephan Sielaff: “The last, very eventful years have been characterized by incredible energy and change at Lenzing. These massive efforts and the resulting developments are just beginning to pay back. I am convinced that they have laid the foundation for an outstanding future for Lenzing. It fills me with pride and gratitude to have played my part in a fantastic company with great employees.” “I am very much looking forward to the new role and the opportunity to strengthen Lenzing as a leading player in the sustainable fiber industry in the coming years. Building on the strong foundation already in place, it is my privilege to be working alongside the team at Lenzing to further expand the business and grow its iconic brands to their full potential,” says Rohit Aggarwal, Member of the Management Board and designated CEO of the Lenzing Group.

Lenzing – The Lenzing Group, the supplier of sustainably produced specialty fibers, achieved first place in the “Hot Button Ranking” of the Canadian non-profit organization Canopy, thus confirming its pioneering role in the areas of sustainability and responsible wood and pulp sourcing. Lenzing can also once again celebrate a dark green shirt, synonymous with the highest category. Selection criteria In this ranking, which receives a lot of attention in the textile and apparel industry, Canopy evaluates the world’s 34 largest producers of cellulosic fibers in terms of their sustainable wood and pulp sourcing, their efforts in the use of alternative raw materials, and their achievements in the protection of ancient and endangered forests. Resource preservation is a key element of Lenzing’s corporate strategy and is at the core of its innovation agenda. The sustainable production of TENCEL™, VEOCEL™, and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded specialty fibers is based on these principles.  Sustainable solutions We work hard to make our industries more sustainable and to drive the transformation of the textile business" “We are very pleased that the steps we are taking as the Lenzing Group to continuously improve and find solutions to the most pressing problems of our time are being seen and honored,” said Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer of Fiber of the Lenzing Group. “We are working hard to make our industries even more sustainable and to drive the transformation of the textile business model from linear to circular. Further efforts from the entire industry are needed for this transformation to take place,” van de Kerkhof said.  Efficient use of resources  Wood and the pulp derived from it are the most important raw materials for the sustainable production of cellulosic fibers from Lenzing. The Lenzing Group assumes responsibility by striving for sustainable procurement based on environmental certificates and responsible and efficient use of these valuable resources. Lenzing sources wood and dissolving pulp from sustainably managed forests and plantations and not from ancient, protected, or endangered forests. Promoting the circular economy  Lenzing is driving the industry toward a fully circular economy by striving to give waste a new life With its REFIBRA™ and Eco-Cycle technologies, Lenzing offers solutions for transforming the textile and nonwoven industries towards a circular economy. In line with its vision for the circular economy, “We give waste a new life. Every day.” Lenzing is driving the industry toward a fully circular economy by striving to give waste a new life in all aspects of its core business and developing circular solutions together with potential partners inside and outside the current value chain. A milestone on this path is the cooperation with the Swedish pulp producer Södra. The two global market pioneers, who have been proactively promoting the circular economy in the fashion industry for many years, are joining forces to give the topic a further boost and make a decisive contribution to solving the global textile waste problem by making fibers from post-consumer textiles. lyocell fibers Currently, Lenzing offers lyocell fibers made from 30 percent recycled cotton waste. The company aims to launch lyocell, modal, and viscose staple fibers with up to 50 percent recycled post-consumer content on a commercial scale by 2025 and to develop a new circular business model by closing the loops for post-consumer waste. By 2025, the company plans to enter into further partnerships with 25 key supply chain companies, which again exemplifies Lenzing’s ambitious path in climate protection and the circular economy. 

Under the motto ‘Space for Innovation’, Techtextil, the globally renowned international trade fair for technical textiles and non-wovens, presented the entire spectrum of technical textiles, functional apparel textiles, and textile technologies and their potential applications, earlier this year, from the 14th to 17th May 2019. Techtextil 2019 As one of the long-term international exhibitors, Lenzing participated in the event and introduced their LENZING fibers and products to the industry partners. Key highlights from the Techtextil 2019 event included the press conference, attended by over 40 journalists and hosted by Marina Crnoja-Cosic, Head of Application Development at Lenzing AG, which covered Lenzing’s botanic solution for aquatic farming to reduce plastic in the sea, where mussel nets application was first announced. Post the press conference, the Innovation Roadshow presentation offered key insights on the best sustainable solutions by Birgit Schnetzlinger, Segment Manager Footwear, Global Business Management New Business Areas at Lenzing AG. Bernard Philipp Alowonou, Vice President Global Business Management - New Business Areas at Lenzing AG, also spoke in a forum about synthetic change makers and the future of wood-based fibers, sharing insightful opinions on sustainable textile industry. LENZING branded fibers At the event, Lenzing’s exhibition focused on protective wear and work wear From agriculture, packaging, and engineered products, to protective wear and work wear, the LENZING branded fibers serve a wide range of various industrial applications. At the event, Lenzing’s exhibition focused on protective wear and work wear, showcasing the product developments for polo shirts. With LENZING branded fibers, it is possible to generate bright and long-lasting colors for clothing and even produce work wear clothes with many intensive colors, ranging from bright red to lush green and deep blue. Driving sustainability More importantly, the fibers from LENZING help brands to drive sustainability at root, as the fibers are derived from the renewable raw material wood and made in environmentally sound production processes. Techtextil 2019 offered a great platform for the industry players to showcase technical textiles for architecture, the automotive industry, construction, clothing, and many others. It was also a valuable platform for Lenzing to network with a wide range of companies, all with similar values and ethics, and raise awareness on LENZING fibers.

Trends in garments and protective gear for firefighters are evolving to address the changing needs of the fire service. Garments worn by firefighters must be comfortable and allow an adequate range of motion. They must protect first responders from hazards such as heat and exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Fire service clothing must be durable to withstand long-term usage in hostile environments. “It’s personal for everyone in the industry,” says Oliver Spoecker, Director, Workwear & Protective Wear and Global Commercial Director for Lenzing. “Firefighters have to be kept safe by the best all-around protective fabrics.” He says fibers must be comfortable, breathable and safe.” Fire-Resistant qualities Flame resistance is a fundamental property for fibers in the fire service. Lenzing FR (Flame Resistant) Fibers are sustainably produced on three continents by the multi-billion-dollar company. The cellulosic fibers come from wood and then are made inherently flame retardant by introducing a pigment into the carbon matrix that provides fire-resistant qualities. Another concern in the fire service is stress from excess body heat caused by exertion The flame resistance is an integral part of the fiber and therefore cannot be washed out or worn out over time; the fire resistance endures as long as the garment. Another concern in the fire service is stress from excess body heat caused by exertion, and FR fibers are breathable to address the issue. Because the fiber comes from natural substances, there are no dangers of exposure to skin. Fire service market Lenzing fibers are familiar to ex-soldiers who later become firefighters. The uniforms of U.S. soldiers in Iran and Afghanistan contained Lenzing fibers. In fact, the breakthrough in military applications gave the company a push to enter the fire service market in 2007. DuPont produces Nomex Xtreme Performance fibers that provide protection, thermal performance and toughness for firefighters. They contain the heat and flame protection of DuPont Nomex with the lightweight strength of DuPont Kevlar, and the thermal damage tolerance and durability of high-performance materials such as PBO, Nomex Nano, and Nomex Nano Flex. Nomex fibers are incorporated into garments by manufacturers such as Fire-Dex, Globe Manufacturing, Lion, Veridian, and Viking. Comfort and flexibility are guiding the development of newer garments. Lighter-Weight jackets A triple-certified garment addresses the budget restraints of many departments For example, 5.11 Tactical has introduced lighter-weight jackets, outerwear, and a duty uniform that combine an ‘old-school’ aesthetic with better comfort and a better range of motion. Flexible fabrics, including a polyester-cotton blend, and adjusted fit are elements in the new line. Viking has introduced the new Viking Shield clothing line that meets the requirements of three different applications: technical rescue and extrication (NFPA 1951), emergency medical services (NFPA 1999), and wildland firefighting (NFPA 1977). A triple-certified garment addresses the budget restraints of many departments. The approach is cost-effective and cost-efficient, says Grant Grinstead, Viking’s Fire Segment Sales Manager for North America. Providing structural protection A surprising element is how lightweight the garment is. “A lot of firefighters are shocked because they didn’t know there was a product like this,” says Grinstead. “The big thing is the light weight and the feel of it, and it is made in tailored sizes.” Viking has provided structural protection (turnout gear) to firefighters for two decades. Introduction of the new Shield product can help reserve a company’s turnout gear for the 30 to 40% of calls that require it. For the other 60 to 70% of calls, the new multi-use, lightweight garments can provide more comfort for firefighters.