Indonesia's Asia Pacific Rayon (APR), a producer of viscose rayon, is showcasing and providing samples of its yarns and fibres at the 17th Dhaka International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition.
The four-day exhibition that began Wednesday is expected to provide an opportunity for local textile and garment manufacturers to meet their global suppliers and experience their digital solutions and innovations.
APR is Asia's "first fully integrated" viscose rayon producer from plantation to viscose fibre and the only Indonesian company that has joined the exhibition.
The company is sharing information on its sustainability commitments under its APR2030 agenda, including the responsible sourcing of fibre for viscose production. Some of the APR2030 targets include reducing its product carbon footprint per tonne of viscose staple fibre by 50 percent.
APR said it will continue to derive 100 percent of its mill's energy needs from renewable and clean energy sources, investing in solutions to improve process efficiency and recovery systems and accelerate innovation in textile recycling, using 20 percent waste composition in its viscose production.
The company's mill in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, Indonesia, produces 240,000 tonnes of viscose staple fibre annually "using state-of-the-art production facilities and innovation while ensuring environmental-friendly production."
APR is the "first viscose manufacturer" in Indonesia to earn the sustainable textile production (sTeP) certification from OEKOTEX, an independent Swiss-based certification organisation for viscose staple fibre.
The company sells to more than 20 countries globally, including key markets like Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is the second largest export market for APR with around 20 percent share of the company's total export.
Viscose-rayon is a fully biodegradable alternative to acrylic, polyester, nylon, and other petroleum-based synthetic fabrics. The demand for viscose rayon is poised to grow at a CAGR of 4 percent by 2028 as fashion brands shift to non-fossil fuel-based materials.
Soft as cotton, breathable, and smooth as silk, viscose rayon drapes beautifully and provides comfort and design versatility.
"Bangladesh is a key market for us. Our VSF (viscose-staple fibre) business will continue to expand into the international markets by partnering with others in the textile value chain. We are committed to responding to customer demand for sustainable viscose with quality, differentiated product offerings, and competitive pricing," said Tapan Sannigrahi, vice-president of marketing and downstream development of APR.
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