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Discover Bemberg / Cupro Fabric, an eco-friendly artificial fiber

Posted on by Fibre Bio
cupro artificial fiber
28
Sep

As you know, research and development of new materials is an integral part of our business. Recently, we discovered a material (not so new since it was first created in 1890): Cupro Fabric, also known as Bemberg.

 

Cupro Fabric is an artificial fiber derived from cotton linter, a short, fluffy fiber that surrounds the seeds of the cotton plant. Before the appearance of Cupro, this part of the cotton was discarded because it was considered useless.

Cotton linters

Photo Credits @AsahiKaseiCorporation

https://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/fibers/en/bemberg/

 

Artificial fiber VS synthetic fiber 

First of all, it seems important to us to make a quick reminder about artificial fibers.

Contrary to what one might think, an artificial fiber is not a synthetic fiber!

Synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, elastane, or acrylic are obtained by the synthesis of chemical compounds derived from petroleum. These fibers are not biodegradable and can cause many health and environmental problems.

Artificial fibers are made from natural and/or vegetable materials that cannot be extracted directly in the form of yarn.

These fibers are therefore transformed into cellulose pulp through a chemical process (cuprammonium solution for Cupro). Thanks to this pulp, long and continuous filaments are created. This then makes it possible to make threads that will be woven.

Modal, Tencel, and Lyocell are also artificial fibers. They are made from wood cellulose.

So you will have understood that Cupro is an artificial fiber and not synthetic. In spite of the chemical treatment that the fiber undergoes, the extracted material is 100% of vegetable origin.

Cupro Fabric – A fully biodegradable material

Cupro Fabric is a 100% biodegradable material. Once placed in the ground, the Cupro disintegrates very quickly and it does not represent any risk to the environment since the extracted fiber is vegetable.

Décomposition Cupro

                               Original piece                                             After 1 month                                            After 2 months

 

Photo Credits @AsahiKaseiCorporation – Decomposition of a piece of Cupro in the earth

 

Closed-circuit production 

The Cupro is manufactured only in closed circuits. That is to say that the water and the chemicals used for its production are reused entirely until they are completely exhausted.

The recycling of products and materials used in the production of Cupro is guaranteed by the GRS (Global Recycled Standards) certification.

 

Advantages of the Cupro Fabric

The Cupro has many advantages for those who wear it:

  • It is breathable, absorbent, and antiperspirant. The Cupro wicks away moisture very well and the air circulates very well too. It is one of the most absorbent materials on the textile market.
  • It is an excellent thermoregulator.
  • It is very soft, silky, and fluid. Cupro can be easily compared to silk by its feel and fluidity.
  • It is antistatic, which allows it to be easily used as a lining or under another material for example.
  • It is very easy to care for. Cupro can be machine washed (no more than 30°C anyway, for the respect of our planet) and as it is not a synthetic fiber, washing it in a machine will not release plastic microfibers in our oceans!
  • The Cupro has both the softness of natural fiber and the properties of artificial fibers.

 

Differences from other artificial fibers such as Tencel / Lyocell / Modal

  • A splendid silk touch. The Cupro is a perfect compromise to realize fluid and silky clothes in a vegan version.
  • The Cupro is made from cotton waste while the Modal and Tencel are made from wood cellulose.
  • It is softer, silkier, and more absorbent than other artificial fibers.
  • Only one company in the world has been able to develop this material. The patent was registered by the Japanese company Asahi Kasei, which offers a guarantee of quality.

 

We hope that you will appreciate this sublime material as much as we do!

 

Talk to you soon, 

Fibre Bio Team


NB: You can also find the Cupro under the name of Bemberg, which is a type of cupro registered by the Japanese company Asahi Kasei.

 

Sources : 

 

Fibre Bio