The Lenzing Group stands for the
ecologically responsible production of specialty fibers made from the renewable
raw material wood. Due to the high demand from Chinese brands and retailers for
sustainably produced fibers, Lenzing delivered fibers from the two Austrian
production sites Lenzing and Heiligenkreuz directly to customers in China by
train for the first time.
Departure
ceremony with Federal Minister
Austria's first complete train with goods
exclusively “Made in Austria” left the Vienna South Terminal towards
China on August 20. The train was loaded with Lenzing fibers and provided by
NUNNER Logistics.
In strict compliance with the COVID-19
protective measures, Leonore Gewessler, Federal Minister for Climate Action,
Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, His Excellency Xiaosi
Li, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Austria, Stefan Doboczky,
CEO of the Lenzing Group, Thomas Kargl, Board Member of the ÖBB Rail Cargo
Group, Erwin Cootjans, CEO Nunner
Logistics and Erich Hampel, Chairman of the Board of the B&C Private
Foundation, took part in the departure ceremony.
The train, which started at Vienna, brought 41 containers with TENCEL branded Lyocell and Modal fibers with a total value
of EUR 1.8 million directly to customers in China. On its 16-day trip to
Shanghai, the train covers a total of 10,460 kilometers and passes seven
countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and
China.
“With this new transport route, we can meet
the high demand from our customers for sustainably produced fibers more
quickly. Thanks to train transport, the urgently needed fibers arrive at our
customers in China twice as quickly as by sea freight,” said Stefan Doboczky,
CEO of the Lenzing Group.
Lenzing has had good experiences with rail
transport for a long time when it comes to delivering the renewable raw
material wood to its plants. Almost 70% of the wood processed at the
Lenzing site has been already delivered by rail.
“Our declared goal is to shift more freight
traffic to rail. Rail is the only way to combine climate goals and economic
interests and thus transport growth. That is why we are happy to be part of
this unique project for our long-standing customer,” said Thomas Kargl, Board
Member of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group.
“Transporting goods by rail to China is
possible. And this train from Vienna to China is an integral part of climate
protection. Because we want to support the shift from road to rail, especially
in freight transports. Today's train is the first step,” added Leonore
Gewessler, Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility,
Innovation and Technology.
Sustainable
materials become important in China
For local brands and retailers in China,
sourcing sustainable goods is becoming increasingly important. For this reason,
manufacturers rely on TENCEL fibers, which contribute to a clean environment
thanks to the renewable raw material wood and the ecologically responsible
production.
The Lenzing Group’s high-quality fibers are
biodegradable and form the basis for a variety of textile applications. The
TENCEL branded Lyocell and Modal fibers transported to China are then used to
create textiles for the fashion industry.
TENCEL Lyocell fibers are known for their
natural comfort and environmentally responsible closed loop production process.
They are often part of breathable fabrics that support the body’s natural
thermal regulation as the microscopic fibrils of cellulosic fibers are
structured to regulate the absorption and release of moisture.
Lyocell
and Modal fibers arrived in China by train on a route that has been used for
centuries: this train transport has connected Austria even more closely
with the One Belt, One Road program - a reintroduction of the legendary Silk
Road. Erwin Cootjans, CEO of NUNNER Logistics, expressed, “The new connection makes it
easier for industry and logistics in Austria and the surrounding countries to
trade with and from China."