Sateri’s lyocell plant in Rizhao, China, has been awarded Sustainable Textile Production (STeP) certification for responsible production, making it the first lyocell producer in China to be certified to the standards set by independent Swiss organization Oeko-Tex.
Together with its earlier achievement of the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification that confirms its lyocell fiber is free from any harmful substances and complies with European standards, Sateri’s lyocell products are qualified to carry the Made in Green by Oeko-Tex product label. This label attests that Sateri’s lyocell fiber is safe and manufactured in an environmentally friendly, socially responsible and safe facility, and affirms the company’s commitment to higher levels of transparency and accountability through the product traceability feature of the label.
The STeP by Oeko-Tex certification comprises three levels describing the extent to which a company has achieved sustainable production and working conditions of factories in the textile industry. The areas of assessment include chemical and environmental management and performance, social responsibility and quality management, and occupational health and safety.
“In addition to having all our (five) viscose mills Oeko-Tex STeP certified, as well as compliant with the emission limits set out in the European Union Best Available Techniques Reference Document on polymers, we now have our first lyocell facility awarded with this certification,” Allen Zhang, president of Sateri, said. “This not only reflects Sateri’s relentless pursuit for responsible manufacturing excellence, but marks an important step toward sustainable value chain management. Sateri will continue to work with upstream and downstream partners to realize the sustainable development of our entire industrial chain.”
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Sateri’s Lyocell fiber factory in Rizhao commenced operation in May 2020, with an annual output of 20,000 tons of lyocell fiber. The same site houses a 5,000-ton lyocell pilot production line dedicated to developing lyocell application technology. In March this year, the company announced plans to expand its lyocell annual production capacity in China to up to 500,000 tons by 2025.
A natural and biodegradable fiber, Sateri’s lyocell is made from wood pulp sourced from certified and sustainable plantations. It is manufactured using closed-loop technology, requiring minimal chemical input during the production process, and utilizing an organic solvent that can be 99.7 percent recovered and recycled.
Sateri’s Lyocell is used to produce high quality textiles and personal hygiene materials. Using a unique high technology manufacturing process, it has strong dry and wet strength, as well as high uniformity and consistency. It blends well with various textile fibers to create different fabric styles and characteristics for wide downstream applications.
Headquartered in Shanghai, Sateri has sales, marketing and customer service network covering Asia, Europe and the Americas.