Specialty materials provider Eastman, which makes Naia cellulosic yarn, said it has aligned its entire forestry supply chain with the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) sourcing standards, including controlled wood procedures.
Eastman said with this development, it is now ready to offer customers FSC Mix-certified Naia cellulosic yarn. The FSC Mix label signifies that Naia yarn is produced with a blend of materials from FSC-certified forests and controlled wood.
FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. The FSC Principles and Criteria provide a foundation for all forest management standards globally.
“We are delighted to introduce FSC Mix to our customers,” Ruth Farrell, Eastman’s global marketing director of textiles, said. “At Eastman, we are committed to a systems-based approach to sustainable forest management that ensures transparency and traceability. The FSC Mix label will provide our customers the next level of assurance that our products come from responsible sources.”
Eastman has also expanded its FSC Chain of Custody certification to include other global Eastman sites.
“We welcome Eastman’s engagement with FSC certification as a practical solution to implement its sustainable sourcing policy,” Jeremy Harrison, chief marketing officer at FSC International, said. “This is a great step for the whole textile industry, since FSC certification will give Eastman’s customers the confidence that the materials they’re purchasing are responsibly sourced, therefore contributing to forest conservation through the implementation of best social and environmental practices.”
Launched in 2017, Naia is made from bio-based wood pulp produced in a closed-loop production process where safe solvents and water are recycled and reused.
In June, Eastman acquired Industrias del Acetato de Celulosa, a Spanish producer of cellulosic yarn, to support continued growth of Naia for the apparel market.
Other wood-pulp-based fiber companies, such as Lenzing Fibers, are also FSC certified, ensuring sustainable practices and standards are followed.
Eastman, headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., had 2018 revenues of $10 billion.