Eucalyptus
De-gummed and bleached Tencel fiber
Tencel fabric
Eucalyptus
[Eucalyptus]
Family
Myrtaceae
Height
Varies from 10-60 meter (700 different species)
Location and climate
A native plant from Australia introduced to the rest of the world and is now considered an invasive plant in many places outside Australia. Can grow in many climates but is damaged by frost.
Pollination
Insects, birds and bats.
Usage
Eucalyptus equals tall and fast growing timber and is also the most common fiber for pulpwood for tissue paper and fine paper, magazines, money bills, news papers and paper bags.
The Tencel fiber for clothing is made from Eucalyptus fiber.
Eucalyptus oil is antiseptic and is also an ingredient in mosquito-repellents.
The nectar of the eucalyptus flowers provide food for many insects, birds and bats.
Many cork trees or oak trees are replaced by eucalyptus. In Portugal, the third biggest supplier of paper in Europe, problems with depletion and landslide is seen due to the mono culture on the big eucalyptus farms where the fast growing three do not root as deep as the old cork trees.
400 mio tonnes of paper is produced globally every year and the demand for Tencel fiber will increase the amount of eucalyptus fields. This calls for a regulation in order to secure the biodiversity in this industry.
