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Modal: The Comfort Revolution of Natural Fibers, A Core Difference Analysis Between Lenzing Modal and Birla Modal

2025-11-05

1. Modal: Redefining the Comfort Standard of Textiles

The rise of Modal is no accident. It accurately addresses the pain points of traditional fabrics and has become the best carrier for the "second skin" concept. Its core advantages stem from the perfect integration of natural properties and technological processes:

1.1 A Sustainable Gift from Forests

Modal uses fast-growing trees as raw materials, extracting cellulose and forming fibers through a combination of physical and chemical processes. Unlike petroleum-based synthetic fibers, its raw materials come from sustainably managed forestlands, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources from the source. More importantly, high-quality Modal production adopts a closed-loop process, with a solvent recovery rate of over 99%. The water consumption for producing per ton of fiber is 40% less than that of traditional processes, and the decomposition rate in soil exceeds 85% within 180 days after disposal, truly realizing a circular cycle of "coming from nature and returning to nature".

1.2 An Irreplaceable Matrix of Skin-Friendly Performance

The comfort of Modal originates from its unique fiber structure: the fineness of a single filament is only 0.11-0.13 dtex, close to that of real silk, with a touch as smooth as a cloud; the moisture regain rate reaches 11% under standard atmospheric conditions, with moisture absorption far superior to cotton fibers. It can quickly absorb sweat from the skin surface and evaporate it, keeping the skin dry at all times. This characteristic makes it shine in the field of intimate apparel — the 60S silk-Modal underwear in the spring and summer new collection of Songshan Cotton Store, with its extreme softness and 7A antibacterial performance, perfectly addresses wearing pain points such as indentations and crotch bunching. For Modal thermal underwear in autumn and winter, the tiny air circulation inside the fibers enables an experience upgrade of "keeping warm without stuffiness".

2. Lenzing Modal vs. Birla Modal: A Comprehensive Comparison of Core Differences

Although both belong to the Modal category, Lenzing and Birla have essential differences in raw material selection, process technology, and performance, which directly affect product positioning and applicable scenarios. The following is an in-depth analysis from six dimensions:

2.1 Raw Materials and Traceability: Differences from Wood to Fiber

Raw materials are the core determinant of Modal quality. Lenzing Modal insists on using high-quality European beech wood. This type of wood has a stable growth cycle, high cellulose content, and excellent purity, providing a delicate basic texture for the fibers. All its wood is sourced from FSC® or PEFC-certified controlled forestlands, and it has even won the "Deep Green Shirt" top honor from the non-profit organization Canopy, ensuring that every fiber can be traced back to sustainable forest resources.

Birla Modal uses a mixed wood pulp of fast-growing eucalyptus and beech (varies by product line). Its raw materials also hold FSC certification, but the eucalyptus fiber structure is relatively thick, resulting in a slight gap in basic texture compared with Lenzing. However, the high growth efficiency of eucalyptus reduces raw material costs, laying the foundation for its cost-effectiveness advantage.

2.2 Production Process: Quality Differences Empowered by Technology

Lenzing Group’s technological innovation is a benchmark in the industry. It adopts Eco Clean technology to achieve completely chlorine-free production and converts textile waste into new fibers through REFIBRA™ technology, with recycled materials accounting for no less than 20% of the fibers. More notably, its molecular marking technology allows professional testing to identify the authenticity of fibers even after the fabric is made into finished garments, fundamentally eliminating counterfeiting.

Birla Modal adopts a mature closed-loop spinning process, with a solvent recovery rate reaching a high level in the industry, ensuring the environmental friendliness of the production process. However, its progress in waste recycling and fiber modification technology is relatively slow, and it has not yet launched breakthrough processes similar to REFIBRA™, resulting in a certain gap in process complexity compared with Lenzing.

2.3 Core Performance: Experience Differences Behind Data

Performance Dimension	Lenzing Modal	Birla Modal
Fiber Characteristics	Long fibers with uniform fineness (0.11-0.13 dtex)	Relatively thick fibers with slightly shorter length
Hand Feel and Luster	Strong silk-like luster, delicate and smooth touch	Good softness, natural matte luster
Moisture Absorption and Breathability	11% moisture regain rate, excellent breathability	10-11% moisture regain rate, good breathability
Dyeing and Color Fastness	Thorough dye absorption, 4-5 grade color fastness, no fading after multiple washes	Average dye uniformity, slight fading tendency for dark colors
Wet-State Stability	85% wet-state strength retention rate, low shrinkage	Wet modulus 2.7 times that of cotton, outstanding dimensional stability
Durability	Moderate anti-pilling property, requires gentle washing	Strong wear resistance, excellent wash durability

2.4 Environmental Certification: Differences in Sustainable Development Levels

Both meet basic environmental standards, but Lenzing’s certification system is more comprehensive and strict:

Lenzing Modal has obtained multiple authoritative certifications such as the EU Ecolabel, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Class I Certification (Infant and Toddler Safety Standard), and USDA 100% Biobased Certification, and has won the EcoVadis Platinum Certification for three consecutive years;
Birla Modal has passed OEKO-TEX® Certification and FSC Forest Certification, meeting global basic environmental standards, but lacks high-level certifications such as the EU Ecolabel.

3. Purchase Decision: How to Match Needs and Scenarios?

3.1 Scenarios for Prioritizing Lenzing Modal

High-end intimate apparel: Products with extremely high requirements for texture and safety, such as silk-blended underwear and lace pajamas;
Dark-colored or printed clothing: Need to maintain bright colors for a long time and avoid fading after washing;
Eco-sensitive consumption: Pursue extreme sustainability and attach importance to the full-life-cycle environmental performance.

3.2 Scenarios for Recommending Birla Modal

Daily basic clothing: Garments with high wearing frequency and short replacement cycles, such as solid-color T-shirts and home clothes;
Sports apparel: Utilize its high wet modulus to meet the needs of stretching and dimensional stability;
Cost-sensitive procurement: Such as hotel home textiles and bulk-customized employee uniforms.

Conclusion: The Future of Modal Lies in Quality and Sustainability

From beech to eucalyptus, from closed-loop processes to recycling innovation, the competition between Lenzing and Birla is driving the continuous evolution of Modal fabrics. For consumers, understanding the differences between the two is the key to avoiding the trap of "counterfeit Modal" — authentic Modal is not only a soft touch but also a respect for natural resources and a pursuit of comfortable experiences. As sustainable fashion becomes a global consensus, both Lenzing’s high-end breakthroughs and Birla’s mass-market popularization are allowing this forest-derived fiber to continuously inject gentle power into life.