The Lenzing Group, a leading supplier of regenerated
cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries,
hosted a high level roundtable in Brussels to discuss how bio
based materials can strengthen Europe’s economic security
and support the shift toward a fossil free future. Organized
in cooperation with Euractiv, the event brought together
representatives of the European Commission, the UK Mis
sion to the EU, academia, civil society, and industry.
Speakers included Aurel Ciobanu Dordea, Director for
Competitive Circular Economy and Clean Industrial Policy
at the European Commission’s DG Environment, Dr. Daniel
Bradley, Deputy Counsellor & Head of Climate and
Environment at the UK Mission to the EU, and Patricia A.
Sargeant, Executive Vice President Nonwovens Commercial
at the Lenzing Group.
A key topic of discussion was the potential of cellulosic fibers
as fully bio based, biodegradable alternatives in nonwoven
applications such as wet wipes. While Europe has the
industrial foundation to scale these fossil free materials,
competitiveness is constrained by global regulatory and cost
asymmetries. Clear, coherent policy signals – Including
possible updates to the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) – were identified as essential for investment certainty and
broader market uptake.
“Europe has set ambitious goals for a clean industry
transition. Our roundtable in Brussels showed that bio based
materials are not a future vision – they are a practical,
scalable reality. As an integrated cellulosic fiber producer
with deep European roots, Lenzing helps strengthen
industrial resilience while accelerating the shift away from
fossil based synthetic fibers,” said Georg Kasperkovitz,
Member of the Management Board of Lenzing Group.
Lenzing reaffirmed that industrial competitiveness and
climate ambition can reinforce each other. Its specialty
fibers, produced from renewable wood, offer lower
greenhouse gas emissions compared to generic alternatives
and are certified biodegradable and compostable. The
company’s climate targets align with the 1.5 degree pathway
and have been validated by the Science Based Targets
initiative.
“Maintaining and expanding European production capacity
is essential for supply chain resilience and strategic
autonomy. Lenzing operates major integrated pulp and fiber
sites in Austria, Czechia, and the UK, with Europe based R&D supporting jobs, innovation, and technological know
how within the region. Cellulosic fibers play a critical role in
single-use products for hygiene applications – underscoring
the need to redesign products toward biodegradable material
solutions that address SUPD concerns and microplastic
pollution,” emphasized Patricia A. Sargeant.
With its longstanding commitment to climate leadership,
innovation, and European manufacturing, the Lenzing
Group will continue to work closely with policymakers and
industry partners to advance a resilient, fossil free materials
economy.