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In recent years, consumer demand for more sustainable textile products has increased exponentially, driven by the growth of eco-conscious fashion. Consumers, especially millennials, are now more aware of the real environmental and social impact of clothing production on climate change and communities around the globe.
Many modern fashion consumers do not just want to know how their clothes were produced. They also want to understand where the raw materials for the clothes were sourced from, and what materials were used.
Fashion brands are increasingly working to improve the transparency of their supply chains by connecting with the producers of textile fibres to improve the overall sustainability of their supply partners. Nowadays, clothing items from renewable and recyclable sources are welcomed by fashion consumers.
Asia’s newest viscose staple fibre producer, Asia Pacific Rayon (APR), located in Riau, Indonesia is emerging as a company that is committed to sustainability, ensuring that their operations are aligned with industry best practice and standards. Operating since January 2019, APR holds PEFC chain of custody certification and only uses 100% certified dissolving wood pulp, ensuring that the forest-based material contained in a product originates from sustainably managed plantations.
The APR facility also holds ISO and Step by OEKO-TEX® certification, which confirms that APR’s production processes and facilities have been comprehensively assessed and third-party verified to have met all relevant standards in terms of chemical management, environmental management and performance, social responsibility, quality, and workplace safety.
In addition, APR has added a number of product level certifications in the 18 months since it began operations. These include: the USDA Biobased, OEKO-TEX® STD 100; OEKO_TEX® Made in Green Label; and medically tested, seedling compostable and DIN-Geprüft industrial compostable certifications.
The USDA Biobased certification confirms that APR’s products are 100% plant based, while the OEKO-TEX® STD 100 certificate states that APR’s products have been tested for harmful substances and that they are harmless to human health.
The Made in Green Label provides an added layer of assurance, transparency, and product confidence that customers expect, as it verifies that an article has been tested for harmful substances and guarantees that the fibre has been manufactured using sustainable processes under environmentally friendly and socially responsible working conditions.
The latest certificate from DIN-Geprüft also shows that products bearing this mark have met stringent safety and quality standards.
APR viscose staple fibre is a sustainable natural fibre and is preferred over synthetic fabrics like acrylic, polyester and nylon. Earning and retaining these certifications is proof that APR’s product is of high quality and complies with industry recognised sustainability standards.
APR’s bespoke traceability platform, followourfibre.com, lets APR’s customers and ultimately consumers to trace fibre back to where it was grown. The full transparency of its supply chain is visible on the app on the company’s website. These initiatives are all part of APR’s commitment to becoming a leading and responsible viscose staple fibre producer and providing value to our customers.
