Our innovative initiative aims to establish a made-in-Canada supply of regenerated cellulose fibres using local sources of cellulose and the environmentally friendly lyocell process. This is the first research of its kind to be conducted using Alberta-grown hemp as a lyocell feedstock.
Hemp bast and hurd present exciting opportunities as local sources of cellulose for the lyocell process. Unlike other plants (such as eucalyptus or bamboo), hemp offers unique properties that allow for improved yarn structures.
The dissolving pulps produced from hemp bast and hurd enable the creation of yarns with enhanced organoleptic and technical performance. This versatility comes from utilizing different parts (bast and hurd) of the same plant.
Lyocell is a regenerated or manmade cellulosic fibre (MMCF) which means it is derived from a natural, renewable cellulosic source but is manufactured through a chemical process. Like other MMCF production (e.g., viscose), the lyocell process dissolves cellulosic material in a solvent to purify the pulp before it is spun into a continuous, filament fibre. However, it has an environmental advantage as the n-methyl morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) solvent is over 99% recoverable and less harmful to people and the environment compared to the traditional viscose process.
The lyocell process can also utilize post-consumer cellulosic textiles as feedstock. By recycling these textiles via the lyocell process, cellulosic textiles can be diverted from landfill, thereby contributing to a circular textiles economy.
Traditional sources of MMCF include wood pulp, eucalyptus, and bamboo. However, the use of these feedstocks has been linked to the deforestation of endangered and old growth forests. By incorporating both the bast and hurd (often considered a waste in hemp production) into our dissolving pulp, we assist in whole plant utilization, and avoid any environmental issues related to deforestation.
Hemp requires less water, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides compared to other conventional fibre crops like cotton. In addition, hemp cultivation assists in carbon dioxide sequestration, making it an environmentally conscious crop. Approximately 22 tones of CO2 per acre of hemp can be sequestered due to Alberta’s long daylight hours and the plant’s rapid growth (up to 7-10 cm per day!).
Utilizing locally grown hemp as a feedstock allows ZyloTex™ to offer the first domestic source of lyocell fibre in Canada.
