Use of regional wool

Classic sheep farming countries are Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa. Shearing of the sheep takes place on the farms in the country of origin.

The raw wools/sweat wools are sold in bales to the wool laundries/wool combers. In most cases, wool laundering and wool combing are done in one process at the combing plant. The largest laundries and combers are in China, India, Argentina, Uruguay, Czech Republic and Italy. Wool tops are produced there, which are packed in bales and delivered to the spinning mills/Zwickauer Kammgarn GmbH located in Germany and the Czech Republic. This involves relatively long transport routes, which are harmful to the environment.

ZKS also uses regional wool from Germany, France, England and Benelux to a limited extent. The sheep from these regions are not classic wool sheep. The wools obtained in this way are relatively coarse and go into special applications. The supply chain is transparent and sustainable.

Use of mulling free wool

Mulesing is the removal of the skin around the tail of sheep without the use of anaesthesia. It is a common procedure in Australia to prevent infestation with fly maggots.

Merino sheep are bred to have extremely wrinkled skin to produce as much wool as possible. Moisture collects under the skin folds and feces and urine in the anal area. This promotes fly infestation. Alternatives are targeted breeding, research into resistance to fly infestation, insecticides and vaccinations or to control the fly biologically.

This fly infestation does not occur in South America. In this sense, wools from there are always mulesing-free.

Use of KBT wool

Zwickauer Kammgarn GmbH uses organic wool. Our requirement goes even further. We buy only GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard) wool tops for a comprehensive sustainable transformation from the farm to the yarn.

Our dyeing plant (X-bobbins and tops) is also GOTS certified and thus meets the highest standards for the well-being of people and the environment beyond the legal requirements.

Use of KBA cotton

For further processing in the twisting and dyeing mill Zwickauer Kammgarn GmbH uses organic cotton.

As with our wool tops, only GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard) cotton yarns are processed, with transformation certificates  from the field to the yarn.

The subsequent dyeing process (X-bobbins and tops) strictly follows the GOTS certification in the use of approved chemicals and processes.

GOTS certification

Global Organic Textile Standard

Certification according to the GOTS standard pursues the goal of guaranteeing the organic status of textiles and credible product safety for the consumer.

The globally recognized leading standard for the entire processing of clothing and home textiles defines environmental requirements at a high level and requires compliance with social criteria along the textile supply chain.

In 2020, the number of GOTS-certified factories worldwide increased by 34% to 10,388, employing over 3 million people in 72 countries.

Use of recycled PES

In the case of recycled polyester, a distinction is made between pre-consumer waste and postconsumer waste. With pre-consumer waste, process-related residues from fibre and filament production are returned to the production process.

In the case of post-consumer waste, PET bottles are sorted qualitatively and according to colour, cleaned and shredded (bottle flakes). The chips are melted down and spun out again.

The advantage of both processes is that waste is reduced and less crude oil is used for new production.

Use of recycled PA

The options available to us are a mixture of more than 50% pre-consumer waste that is recycled back into the production process. The remainder is Virgin PA in this respect.

Use of biodegradable PA

Modified PA66 polymer that decomposes into biomass and biogas in industrial composting facilities.

(ASTM D 5511)

Use of bio-based and biodegradable raw material

The majority of plastics currently in use are based on petroleum. Biobased raw materials are renewable natural raw materials. Their origin is mostly plants. Industrial plants (corn, rapeseed, sunflower, sugar beet, castor) go into the production of technical oils and industrial starch as the basis of biobased fibers.

Wood has long been used in the production of cellulose fibers. In addition to cotton, linen, flax and hemp are used in textiles. In the aquatic sector, algae are added.

Biobased plastics are not necessarily biodegradable. Biodegradable plastics consist of polymers that can be decomposed by microorganisms using enzymes under certain conditions (usually in industrial composting plants). More details are defined in various standards (EU standard EN 13432).

Use of bio-based and biodegradable raw materials from 100% renewable resources

Biodegradable plastics can be converted into the decomposition products water, carbon monoxide or methane and biomass mainly by oxidation and hydrolysis processes. Biodegradability is rooted in the chemical structure. More specifics are defined in various standards.

One of the most important is the EU standard EN 13432. If biodegradable plastics are suitable for industrial composting according to this standard and also certified accordingly, they will degrade within a maximum of 12 weeks under the appropriate conditions in an industrial composting plant.

Biodegradable can be bio-based fibers, but also fibers of petrochemical origin. Biobased fibers are not necessarily biodegradable. Decomposition into particles that are no longer visible does not fulfill the criterion of biodegradable.

Use of natural raw materials

Natural raw materials can be of both animal and plant origin. In addition to the classic wool from sheep, other animal hairs such as cashmere or angora are also spun into yarns. In the plant sector, linen, hemp, jute and flax are already being used in the long term alongside cotton.

Whereas the production of viscose (cellulose fiber) from wood still releases environmentally harmful toxins, a direct dissolving process with non-toxic solvent in a closed cycle has been developed for the production of Tencel/Lyocell. The silk production from the cocoons of silkworms can be seen separately.

Chlorine free wool finish

Conventional felt-free finishes of the wool are based on treatments containing chlorine.

With a view to the environment and within the framework of our GOTS-certified dyeing and finishing processes, we only exclusively use chlorine-free treated wool tops in this area.

In this way, sustainably produced yarns and the knitted fabrics made from them have optimal care properties.

CO₂ neutrality

avoid CO₂ - reduce - compensate

We take a differentiated look at the entire value chain, from the procurement of raw materials and our own production steps to delivery to the customer, including the transport routes within the chain. The CO₂ footprint of each product is analysed in detail.

Our goal is to increasingly avoid CO₂ through targeted measures in procurement and in our production steps.

In addition, we have decided for sensible compensation related to our products and processes in cooperation with ClimatePartner.

TRIWITEX^® made from 100% pure natural fibers

We combine our innovative TRIWITEX® process with the use of exclusively natural raw materials.

The structure of the core yarn with fiber content on the inside and wrapping by the protective filament is retained.

However, the filament portion here is, for example, viscose or silk. It is also possible to use a very finely spun fiber yarn instead of the filament. Natural, durable, long-lasting.