Lenzing Group: A partnership with tradition

01. 03. 2022

The Lenzing Group manufactures fibres from natural wood for industry and retailers in the fashion, beauty and hygiene sectors using resource-efficient processes. Sustainability is a guiding principle at the Lenzing Group, so it is only logical that the company would want to transport its products in an environmentally friendly way.

The Lenzing Group was one of RCG’s first customers – and we continue to have a close partnership today. It is a collaboration founded on professionalism, reliability and mutual respect. The environmentally friendly transportation of goods by rail blends seamlessly into the company's green philosophy, but is also the most efficient solution for our customer. 

Incidentally: in December, our site in Lenzing became the second RCG warehouse location in Austria to be climate-neutral. This means that RCG records its greenhouse gas emissions, continuously reduces them, and offsets unavoidable emissions through climate-protection projects. Further information on this can be found here.

The climate-neutral warehouse Lenzing

We asked the Lenzing Group to come and talk to us and tell us why they value RCG and why rail will continue to be their preferred mode of transport in the future.

What kind of work does your company do? 

The Lenzing Group is an international company that manufactures high-quality fibres from renewable wood, which is processed using innovative technologies to minimise the impact on the environment. For more than 80 years, our vision has extended far beyond fibres and is all about life. Our expertise, our passion and our ambition are geared not only towards making products for industry and retailers in the fashion, beauty and hygiene sectors, but also towards improving people’s lives in the long term with surprising and inspiring solutions, in order to make a positive contribution to society and the world in which we live. 

Which field do you work in? 

Lenzing is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of speciality wood-based fibres. Our business model, however, goes far beyond that of a traditional fibre producer. The company makes a considerable contribution towards ‘green fashion’ through our commitment at every stage of the value chain. This pioneering approach is founded on a clear vision: namely, to achieve our aim of a zero-carbon future. We aim to reduce our CO2 emissions by 50% per cent by 2030, and to make our production completely climate-neutral by 2050. 

Which RCG services do you use? 

We use block trains, single wagonloads and intermodal transport. 

What are your products used for? 

The Lenzing Group's high-quality fibres form the basic material for a wide range of textile applications – from elegant outer garments and versatile denim fabrics to high-performance sports apparel. Lenzing fibres are of consistently high quality, as well as being biodegradable and compostable, which makes them highly suitable for use in hygiene products and for agricultural applications. 

How long have you been a customer of RCG? 

Lenzing AG has been a customer of RCG since it was founded. 

What do you appreciate about working with RCG? 

We particularly value RCG’s professional approach. If we need support, RCG is always on hand to take care of our concerns and transport requirements. 

What was the best experience you have had with RCG? 

In 2019, there was a rail strike in France. Despite this challenge, RCG quickly moved our shipments of CS2 over to intermodal transport. This meant that our day-to-day operations were not affected by the strike. We very much appreciated this solution-driven approach. 

What made you decide to use rail transport? 

There are two main reasons why we prefer rail transport. Firstly, because it is simply the most efficient option for us when transporting large quantities of goods. Secondly, it is a question of the ecological footprint. We would like to shift even more shipments over to rail so we can do even more to tackle climate-change and environmental issues. 

What does sustainability mean to you? 

Adopting a long-term, forward-looking approach in the way we think and conduct our business operations, so that the company can continue to operate successfully in the market in the long term. The subject of sustainability is clearly anchored in the strategy of the Lenzing Group. Sustainability is the driving force for our development department. As a raw materials producer, we are at the beginning of the textile value chain, which is currently facing some critical challenges. We have developed the key focus areas of our sustainability strategy from the results of a materiality analysis. Based on the three dimensions “people – planet – profit”, we have defined seven core areas as part of our sustainability strategy in which the Lenzing Group is making a significant contribution and helping to bring about positive change. These cover sustainable procurement, the responsible use of raw materials, decarbonisation, sustainable innovation, a clear commitment to the value of partnerships for systemic change, and enhancing social and personal well-being. 

What does rail travel mean to you? 

For us, rail travel means reducing the impact on the environment, promoting responsibly planned travel services, and being able to transport large goods from A to B.