Birla Cellulose Amps Up Sustainable Innovations With Intellicolor, EcoSoft and SaFR
SJ Studio
4 min read
Can innovation and sustainability co-exist? Increasingly, they must. Consumers are demanding more innovative, sustainable fashion—be it fashionable, functional or highly specialized—and brands are turning to fiber companies to deliver.
Birla Cellulose, the pioneering pulp and fiber business of the Aditya Birla Group, continues to redefine the world of sustainable fashion and has rolled out a few innovations over the past two years, all while keeping sustainability in mind—Intellicolor, EcoSoft and SaFR. “This effort is our push to enable a sustainable tomorrow,” said Manmohan Singh, chief marketing officer, Birla Cellulose.
Looking at these three innovations, each aims to transform how the industry perceives fashion, blending style seamlessly with environmental consciousness.
Intellicolor: Birla Cellulose unveiled Birla Viscose Intellicolor earlier this year, offering salt-free dyeing to address the long-standing challenge of conventional reactive dyeing. The patented Intellicolor system uses Cationic or Basic dyes for an exceptional dye exhaustion rate exceeding 95 percent. It achieves brighter shades with higher tinctorial value and color depth compared to reactive dyes and offers superior color vibrancy with lower dye concentrations, according to the company. Intellicolor reduces chemical consumption, lowers utility usage, shortens processing times and decreases dye quantities by 25 to 50 percent.
Intellicolor conserves energy and water (less effluent) as it requires fewer washes post-dyeing and eliminates fixing steps. This advancement enables dyeing with Basic dyes, promising enhanced dye uptake and superior wash fastness compared to traditional Reactive dyes. And since it eliminates the need for salt and soda ash, the streamlined operations reduce environmental impact and costs by more than 30 percent.
EcoSoft (Bamboo): This luxurious bamboo viscose fiber is derived from sustainably managed bamboo forests and fortified with FSC certification, thus “preserving nature’s rhythm” while crafting a fabric that caters to modern-day demands.
“It is a proud moment for Birla Cellulose to introduce a made-in-India bamboo variant of viscose, Birla Viscose EcoSoft,” said ManMohan Singh, adding that the company is “committed to providing our customers with the highest quality bamboo variant viscose in India and worldwide.”
Birla Viscose EcoSoft is known for its “exceptional breathability and moisture management,” both leading to heightened comfort for all areas of fashion. Fabrics created with Birla Viscose EcoSoft boast a comfortable, velvety drape that “resonates with luxury and elegance.” Another distinguishing element is its molecular tracer technology. Each Birla Viscose EcoSoft creation comes with a molecular tracer transaction certificate, enhancing the fabric’s authenticity and building trust that reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to transparency.
SaFR (Fire Resistant): Unveiled last year at ITMA 2023 in Milan, this groundbreaking flame-retardant safety product marks a significant milestone in Birla Cellulose’s strategic vision to offer products for the technical textile industry. Birla SaFR is a phosphate-based, sustainable cellulosic fiber, ideal for making flame-retardant fabrics with exceptional performance and eco-friendly characteristics.
Birla SaFR can be blended with other high-performance fibers—aramid, flame-retardant mod acrylic, flame-retardant polyester—to create a diverse range of protective clothing solutions. Created for situations and professional careers requiring thermal protection, electric arc protection, molten metal splash protection (think defense, emergency response (ER), oil and gas, electrical utility companies) and for various manufacturing industries, Birla SaFR has an Oxygen Limiting Factor (OLF) > 28 and it sustains flame-retardant efficacy for under 50 washes as tested and verified by 3rd party agencies. In flame tests, SAFR fabric had shorter char lengths (3.5–4 cm) compared to other cellulosic FR fabrics
Additionally, the enhanced protection against heat-related hazards does not compromise the wearer’s comfort, which is particularly important for those working in extremely hot conditions. Fabrics and garments crafted with these fibers are soft, comfortable and breathable, and the wood pulp’s moisture management reduces risk of heat stroke.
H.K Agarwal, managing director, Grasim Industries Ltd & business director, pulp & fiber business, stated, “Birla SaFR is the first flame-retardant fiber developed in India specifically for the technical textile segment. We take immense pride in knowing that our product will be used in various categories of protective wear, ultimately safeguarding lives.”
Overall, Birla Cellulose’s dedication to sustainable practices is evident. With an impressive track record of environmental responsibility, Birla Cellulose operates 12 manufacturing sites that employ closed-loop technologies, leveraging recycled materials and enhanced resource conservation. Their fiber offerings, including Livaeco viscose, Livaeco Modal, Excel? (lyocell), and Spunshades? Eco-Enhanced, showcase their dedication to delivering performance and sustainability.
This commitment to sustainability has earned Birla Cellulose recognition, topping the Hot Button Ranking and receiving the prestigious ‘dark green shirt’ accolade from the Canopy Planet Society.
To learn more about Birla Cellulose and its innovations, click here.
