Tencel-Eucalyptus

What Is Tencel?

Tencel is a versatile and practical fabric, sourced from the eucalyptus tree, and has become popular among Brits for its luxurious feel and chic appearance. But what exactly is Tencel, and what are its full list of benefits? In this guide, we’ve discussed all you need to know about lyocell Tencel fabric, including a side-by-side comparison to cotton bedding.

What is Eucalyptus?

The eucalyptus plant (and it’s 700 variations) is native to Australia. The trees range in size from less than 10 meters to almost 100 meters tall, and make up around 75% of the trees in Australia’s forests. But what else is there to know about this popular plant?

• Eucalyptus is fast-growing readily available throughout the year.
• Eucalyptus is an extremely durable and hardy plant which can survive high temperatures and periods of drought. It can even survive wildfires that sometimes sweep across Australia, with fire-resistant seeds that can quickly sprout and begin to regrow after a blaze.
• Thanks to its hardy properties and adaptability, eucalyptus plants are now also grown across the globe in southern Europe, South America and South East Asia.
• They’re in high demand, thanks to their various uses and fast growth, and are often cut at the base which allows it to regrow quickly.
  

The timber from eucalyptus trees is a popular material for construction. It is used as flooring, fencing, decking and more. Helpfully, its a strong and dense material that has decent resistance to termites.

Perhaps surprisingly, the wood of eucalyptus trees can also be made into fabric. Eucalyptus wood is broken down into wood pulp, - and wood cellulose is extracted and turned into fibres. The fibres are then woven into a fabric called Tencel™.

Tencel™ is a strong, breathable and soft fabric that’s luxury is comparable to silk. It is also one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly textile material options available.

What is Tencel fabric?

Soft and silky, Tencel is a popular bedding fabric among those looking for luxury. Lyocell is the most common type of Tencel fabric found in bedding. Its fibers are versatile threads that can easily be combined with other textile materials, including cotton, wool, and silk, to enhance their quality and aesthetic. Lyocell is known for its strength, outstanding moisture-wicking properties, and silky softness on the skin.

How is Tencel made?

Tencel is a man-made fibre, created from the sustainable and evergreen eucalyptus tree. Once processed, the fibres are soft and silky; perfect for luxury bedding. But how do we go from tree to fabric?

1. The eucalyptus trees are cut and then processed until the wood becomes a mushy pulp.
2. Cellulose is then extracted from the pulp and pushed through a spinneret.
3. The spinneret has fine nozzles, so, when the cellulose is forced through, it forms a long fibre which can then be spun into a yarn and woven into Tencel fabric.

One of the key upsides of Tencel fibre production is that the process is a closed loop system (meaning water waste is reused at another stage), and doesn’t use any toxic chemicals. It is therefore safe for fabric factory workers and for local environments. 

What does Tencel feel like?

Tencel is an incredibly soft and luxurious fabric that is often likened to silk, and one which gets even softer with every wash. The fabric’s temperature-regulating properties also provide a cool and comfortable night’s sleep even on the warmest of summer evenings.

How does Tencel impact the environment?

Because Tencel is made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus trees, often grown in biodiverse forests on non-arable land within ethical plantations, bedding manufactured using the fabric is extremely environmentally-friendly. Eucalyptus trees can shoot to impressive heights and the soil it’s grown in is unaffected by harvesting.

Additionally, Tencel uses 95% less water in production than cotton, 30% less energy, and the final fibres produced through the closed-loop process are 100% biodegradable and renewable.

What are the benefits of Tencel?

Eucalyptus already has a seemingly endless range of useful benefits and applications. However, it’s fast and easy regrowth has made it a popular and promising choice in the move towards sustainable bedding.

1. Breathable

Tencel is a breathable fabric that allows air to freely flow between the fibres, which prevents heat retention and provides a cool and comfortable night’s sleep. Not only this, but Tencel is great at wicking away moisture (such as sweat), keeping you dry even during the hottest months.

3. Long-lasting

One of the most popular reasons people choose Tencel over other fabrics such as cotton is its durability and strength. If looked after correctly, you can enjoy eucalyptus for years to come, which subsequently improves its value.

4. Silky softness

It’s perhaps the most obvious selling point: Tencel is seriously soft and silky, giving you ultimate luxury every time you get into bed. But not only that; eucalyptus silk gets even softer with every wash.

5. Aesthetic

Tencel has a silky sheen to it that gives any bedroom a feeling of luxury and chic sophistication. It’s also practically wrinkle-resistant, meaning your Tencel bedding will elegantly drape over the sides of your mattress.

6. Hypoallergenic

Because Tencel is part-synthetic, it has excellent hypoallergenic properties, which means you can enjoy your bedding without the worry of night-time spluttering and sneezing – something many Brits have to endure during the height of hay fever season. Because Tencel is an excellent moisture-wicker, the fabric is also unlikely to accommodate bacteria, which prevents odours and allergies.