What is Modal Fabric and is it Sustainable?

In case you’re on the lookout for sustainable materials you’ve seemingly come throughout Modal on some clothes tags. Study extra about what it’s and if it’s really an eco-friendly alternative:

What’s Modal?

Modal is a sort of rayon, which is a cellulose-based fiber constructed from pure sources, similar to wooden pulp, that undergo a chemical course of. Modal, viscose, rayon, bamboo, Tencel and lyocell are all in the identical household and generally known as semi-synthetic or cellulose-synthetic fibres due to this course of.

Nonetheless, what distinguishes modal from conventional rayon is the uncooked materials used and the manufacturing course of. Modal is usually produced from beech timber, recognized for his or her quick development. LENZING™ Modal can also be made in a much less poisonous, closed-loop system which recovers the chemical compounds, but it surely’s necessary to notice that not all modal is made by Lenzing.

Cloth Traits

• Hand (Really feel): Modal material is tender, silky and light-weight, with good drape.
• Breathability & Warmth Retention: Modal is snug and breathable. It sometimes has a ‘cool’ really feel and low warmth retention.
• Price: Like most regenerated cellulose materials, modal is a less expensive material to fabricate with. Nonetheless in comparison with rayon or viscose it tends to be costlier with LENZING™ Modal being the costliest.
• Care & Longevity: Modal is wrinkle resistant, quick-drying, and may often be machine washed, nonetheless it doesn’t maintain as much as warmth effectively so chilly water washing and air-drying are really helpful.

Is Modal Cloth Sustainable?

Modal is commonly touted as a sustainable different because of beech timber rising quickly and requiring much less water, and it utilizing a “much less poisonous” chemical course of in comparison with standard rayon.

The criticism of modal although is that it nonetheless requires a producing course of with poisonous chemical compounds and sometimes in areas with little environmental regulation about what occurs to the water and waste from the method.

One other difficulty with cellulose fibres is the place the wooden pulp comes from. Rayon, viscose, modal and different cellulose fibre manufacturing causes deforestation and harms ancient and endangered forests.

As talked about above, one of many complicated issues with modal is that there’s each generic modal and LENZING™ Modal. LENZING™ Modal claims to be made in a closed-loop system and from sustainably managed forests to deal with these issues with cellulose fibres.

Our Conclusion: Search for LENZING™ Modal and if it doesn’t specify, ask manufacturers the place their modal got here from. The sourcing of wooden and chemical use/restoration with cellulose materials is a big concern however Lenzing’s merchandise (additionally together with Tencel and Ecovero) appear to be essentially the most sustainable choice presently obtainable.