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Celliant Viscose

Celliant fibres / Source: Celliant
AsiaBreathableCelliant ViscoseCelluloseEuropeLightweightNorth AmericaOceaniaOdour ResistantTextilesViscose

WHAT WE SAY:

There are two main arguments made for synthetics – they are cheap, and they offer high performance.

We won’t address the (artificially) low price point here, but Celliant Viscose is one of a new breed of natural fibres that offer synthetic-like qualities – in this instance, capturing a wearer’s body heat and reflecting it back as infrared energy, increasing oxygenation, improving temperature regulation and more. And it’s not the only one – Natural Fiber Welding’s Clarus is another example of how we can ‘upgrade’ natural fibres to give them superpowers. So next time you’re looking for a functional fibre, don’t automatically turn to synthetics. Nature is our best teacher.

Celliant Viscose

WHAT IS CELLIANT VISCOSE?

  • Celliant Viscose is a proprietary type of Viscose made by Kelheim Fibres using Celliant additives from chemicals company Hologenix.
  • The minerals in Celliant Viscose work to capture and convert body heat into infrared energy. This is then reflected back to the skin and can help maintain correct body temperature, aiding sleep and promoting faster recovery from physical activity via increased circulation.
  • Celliant is designated as a medical device in multiple markets including the US, European Union, Australia, Japan and the UK.
  • Celliant Viscose can be blended with a number of other fabrics, including Cotton, micromodal, Lyocell and Wool varieties, including cashmere.
  • Launched in January 2021, Celliant Viscose has been used by German brand Mey in its Zzzleepwear Series, with other suggested use cases including bedding, performance and loungewear. Brands using previous Celliant technology include Amazon, Calvin Klein, Under Armour and Levi’s, among others.

KEY PROPERTIES:

  • Breathable
  • Lightweight
  • Odour Resistant

INDUSTRY:

  • Textiles

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

  • Over 60% of material used in clothing today is a form of plastic – mainly polyester. With over 100 billion garments manufactured each year, that’s a lot of plastic. A type of rayon, viscose offers an alternative made from wood pulp. Celliant Viscose claims to be the first in-fibre (as opposed to coatings-based) sustainable viscose infrared solution.
  • To make viscose, Cellulose must be modified with chemicals before being dissolved in water and pressed through an extrusion head into a bath of dilute acid, which regenerates the cellulose and forms a fibre. It’s at this point that modifications to the size and shape of the cross-section can be made.
  • In the case of Celliant Viscose, that means adding a proprietary blend of thermo-reactive minerals, known as Celliant, that work to capture and convert body heat into full-spectrum infrared energy, which has been clinically proven to better regulate body temperature.
  • Scientific testing shows that subjects wearing Celliant-powered products experience an increase in their tissue oxygen levels of at least 7%.
  • Kelheim Fibres’ Celliant Viscose fibre has been awarded STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certification as well as being produced from FSC or PEFC-certified wood pulp.
  • The company is rated as the third most sustainable viscose producer in the 2021 Canopy Hot Button rankings. It was awarded gold in the CSR rating by EcoVadis, putting it in the top 3% of all companies evaluated, and scoring top results in the environmental category.
  • Celliant Viscose is available in the following fibre types: Textile 1,7 dtex/40 millimetres, Nonwovens 1,7 dtex/40 millimetres, Wool 2,5 dtex/Variable Cut, Filling/Nonwovens 6,7 dtex/60 millimetres.
  • The fibre was selected as a Finalist in the Fibres and Insulations category of the ISPO Awards 2021.
Illustration of Celliant technology / Source: Celliant
Celliant fibre source / Source: Celliant

KEY FACTS:

7%

Scientific testing shows that subjects wearing Celliant-powered products experience an increase in their tissue oxygen levels of at least 7%

60%

Over 60% of material used in clothing today is a form of plastic – mainly polyester

Key Questions to Ask:

Exactly what chemical processes and substances are used in turning cellulose into Celliant Viscose?

Even though Kelheim Fibre’s European production means its facilities and outputs are highly regulated, the chemicals used to turn cellulose into viscose are hazardous and water treatment requires an input of energy. Lyocell is a more environmentally friendly alternative, although a Celliant-powered lyocell fibre does not appear to be available yet.

Does the addition of Celliant impact garments’ end-of-life?

Despite being a semi-synthetic fibre, viscose will break down at end-of-life under the right conditions, and without leaving microplastic fibres. In some studies, viscose (rayon) has been found to decompose even quicker than cotton. However, it is not clear how the Celliant additives will impact the speed and residue during this process, but you should be mindful of this when designing your products.

Is viscose durable enough for your needs?

Like other types of rayon, viscose benefits from being soft and lightweight, but it isn’t always as durable as many natural fibres like cotton. Viscose can pill, stretch out of shape and disintegrate faster than the fully synthetic fibres it replaces. A product that doesn’t last, especially if it ends up in landfill at its end-of-life, isn’t sustainable. If Celliant Viscose is used in a blend with other materials to get the right feel and durability, you should choose natural fibres only to avoid microplastic and end-of-life issues.

MEET THE MAKERS:

Kelheim Fibres

KEY PRODUCTS
Celliant ViscoseCelluloseViscose
LOCATION
Europe

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