Modal Fabric

Description

• Modal fabric (registered trademark) is a man made 100% cellulose fibre, made out of pure wooden chips from the beech tree.
• Made from the ‘European Schneider zelkova’ tree.
• Combined with modern microforms.
• The fibre is processed by creating a wood pulp, then spinning, then processing the reconstituted beech tree into cellulose fibre.
• Modal fabric is commonly blended with cotton as the cross fibre is similar.

Uses

• Towelling, bathrobes, bedding.
• Yarn, clothing, bed clothes, underwear.
• Furnishings, bedding.

Advantages

• Absorbs 50% more water than cotton.
• Takes dye as well as cotton.
• Lightweight fabric.
• Has the appearance of silk: luster/sheen/gloss.
• Holds colour when machine washed in warm water.
• Fabric isn’t stiff, doesn’t become rigid when machine washed.
• Can be repeatably washed and holds soft and smooth characteristics.
• Soft and smooth against the skin.
• Doesn’t pile as much as cotton.
• Resistant to fading.
• Resistant to shrinkage.
• Resistant to mineral build up when washed again and again e.g. lime from hard water.
• Blends are more crease resistant.
• Doesn’t age like cotton.

Disadvantages

• 100% modal requires ironing.
• 100% modal has a tendency to pile due to the long fibres.
• More expensive than viscose.

Embodied Energy

• Transportation from manufacturer to Europe or USA increases fuel consumption, depending on the distance for shipping.
• Currently the only manufacturer of this textile is in Austria, if you are local to Austria this textile is ideal, however further away lowers the eco credentials.
• Processing the beech wood into a cellulose fibre is a man made process which uses more energy than processing natural fibres.

Source/Origin

• Austria – Modal is a registered trademark of Lenzig AG.
• Beech is imported from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany.

Renewable

• Manufacturer advises all timber is collected from sustainably managed forests.

Environment & Health

• Made from 100% natural timber, creating a 100% natural fibre.
• Harmless to humans and animals as 100% natural.
• Manufacturer has a sustainability policy in place for their manufacturing process.
  Some of the beech chippings used are from industrial timber – unable to use such timber for quality timber e.g. furniture, flooring, door fronts etc.
• Waste by products of processing are sold on e.g. wood sugars.

Performance

• As strong as polyester.
• Retains softness and silky appearance after repeated machine washing.

Recycled content

• n/a

Recyclable

• Can be recycled into lesser worth products e.g. filling materials.

Disposal / Biodegradable

• 100 % biodegradable fabric