Roadmap for responsible viscose and modal manufacturing

The roadmap urges brands to drive a transition to closed-loop viscose and modal manufacturing by 2023-25 to mitigate air and water pollution. It outlines a framework for responsible sourcing, including supply chain mapping, third-party monitoring, and the adoption of EU Best Available Technique (BAT) standards for chemical recovery and emission limits. The document emphasizes the need for brands to set hard deadlines for suppliers, ensure worker safety, and remediate historical environmental damage, particularly in high-volume production areas like China.

• The primary goal for viscose and modal producers is to transition to a closed-loop manufacturing system by 2023-25, which is defined as a system ensuring emission controls and chemical recovery rates aligned with EU Best Available Technique (BAT) standards.
• Viscose is the most common manmade cellulose fibre, making up over 70% of the global market, while modal and lyocell account for 19% and 9% respectively. Modal production is similar to viscose but can be more energy- and chemical-intensive.
• The European Commission's 2007 Reference document on best available techniques (BAT) in the production of polymers is identified as the most comprehensive standard for viscose fibre production, though it primarily addresses staple fibre rather than filament yarn.
• Responsible brands must implement a comprehensive management framework consisting of establishing a responsible production policy, mapping the supply chain for full transparency, evaluating factories via gap analysis, and conducting regular independent third-party monitoring.
• In China, brands can use the Blue Map Database maintained by the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) to monitor factory compliance with national pollution standards in real time.
• Key environmental risks in viscose manufacturing include the release of hazardous chemicals such as carbon disulphide (CS2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and sulphuric acid (H2SO4), which can harm factory workers and local ecosystems.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2018). Roadmap for responsible viscose and modal manufacturing. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Roadmap-towards-responsible-viscose-and-modal-fibre-manufacturing.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Roadmap for responsible viscose and modal manufacturing. 2018. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Roadmap-towards-responsible-viscose-and-modal-fibre-manufacturing.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Roadmap for responsible viscose and modal manufacturing |date=February 2018 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Roadmap-towards-responsible-viscose-and-modal-fibre-manufacturing.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2018roadmap, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Roadmap for responsible viscose and modal manufacturing}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2018}, month = feb, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Roadmap-towards-responsible-viscose-and-modal-fibre-manufacturing.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }