Lenzing Group Highlights Bio-Based Fibres For Europe’s Clean Industry
Lenzing Group has highlighted the strategic importance of bio-based materials in strengthening Europe’s economic security and supporting the transition toward a fossil-free industry. The company hosted a high-level roundtable in Brussels on March 10, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, academia and civil society to discuss scalable alternatives to fossil-based materials.
Organised in cooperation with Euractiv, the event featured speakers including Aurel Ciobanu‑Dordea, Daniel Bradley, and Patricia A. Sargeant.
Discussions focused on the potential of cellulosic fibres as fully bio-based and biodegradable alternatives for nonwoven applications such as wet wipes. Participants noted that while Europe has the industrial capacity to scale such fossil-free materials, competitiveness remains affected by regulatory and cost differences across global markets. Clear and consistent policy signals, including potential updates to the Single Use Plastics Directive, were highlighted as important for encouraging investment and broader market adoption.
Georg Kasperkovitz said bio-based materials are already a practical and scalable solution that can help accelerate the shift away from fossil-based synthetic fibres while strengthening industrial resilience in Europe.
The company noted that its specialty fibres, produced from renewable wood sources, offer lower greenhouse-gas emissions compared with conventional alternatives and are certified biodegradable and compostable. Lenzing Group added that its climate targets are aligned with the 1.5-degree pathway and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
The group also emphasised the importance of maintaining and expanding European production capacity to strengthen supply-chain resilience and technological leadership. Lenzing currently operates integrated pulp and fibre production sites in Austria, Czechia and the UK, supported by Europe-based research and development activities.
