Tencel Lyocell

Tencel Lyocell is a regenerated cellulosic fiber, meaning wood pulp dissolved and re-spun into fiber, but it uses a non-toxic amine oxide solvent (NMMO) in a closed-loop system that recovers over 99 percent of the solvent for reuse, so it skips the carbon disulfide that defines older viscose.

This is about as clean as a man-made fiber gets next to your skin. The NMMO solvent is captured rather than emitted, and the finished fiber is washed so it carries virtually no residual processing chemicals. It is highly moisture-absorbent and wicks dampness off your skin, which keeps the surface drier and gives bacteria less to feed on, a real help if you run hot or have reactive skin. The smooth fiber surface tends to irritate less than rougher fibers. Your real risk is not the fiber but what gets added later: reactive dyes, anti-wrinkle or anti-shrink finishes that can leave residual formaldehyde, so the certification on the finished garment matters more than the fiber name.

Look for the branded TENCEL Lyocell name, which guarantees Lenzing's closed-loop process, and an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 label confirming the finished, dyed garment was tested against formaldehyde, azo dyes, and other harmful substances.

The closed-loop solvent recovery and certified wood sourcing also make it far lower-impact than conventional viscose.