Microplastics
Penalty 25/100 - weighted impact 11.3
Tencel Lyocell is recorded as Regenerated Cellulose Fiber and tied to no listed microplastic polymer, which drives the material's microplastics score pressure.
Regenerated Cellulose Fiber
Tencel Lyocell clothing: health and sustainability score
A specific type of Tencel made from eucalyptus wood pulp. Produced with 99% solvent recovery, biodegradable, and requires less water than cotton while offering silk-like softness.
Score drivers
Greener Closet scores materials from several penalty inputs. The same material can be reasonable in one product and weak in another, but these are the default drivers behind the base material record.
Low concern
PFAS uncertainty
Penalty 0/100 - weighted impact 0
MaterialsDB does not apply a base PFAS penalty to Tencel Lyocell. Product-level water, stain, or performance finishes can still change PFAS risk.
Half-life and biodegradability
Penalty 0/100 - weighted impact 0
Tencel Lyocell has no persistence penalty in MaterialsDB, which generally reflects better biodegradability than petroleum-based synthetics.
Fiber shedding
Penalty 0/100 - weighted impact 0
Tencel Lyocell has no default microfiber-shedding penalty in MaterialsDB. Garment construction and laundering still matter.
Manufacturing energy
Penalty 15/100 - weighted impact 1.5
Tencel Lyocell carries a manufacturing-energy penalty, so production impacts remain part of the score even when microplastic risk is low.
Safer alternatives to consider
Best next step
Paste the full fabric label into the homepage checker. A 95% cotton, 5% elastane garment will not score the same as 100% cotton, and the checker handles those percentages.
Use the material-label checkerRelated scored products
90 visible scored products include Tencel Lyocell.
Men's Work Denim 5-Pocket Pants - Regular
Brand: Patagonia
97/100
Men'sPants
Men's Work Denim 5-Pocket Pants - Short
Brand: Patagonia
95/100
Men'sPantsShorts
Bella Stretch Relaxed Straight Jeans
Brand: Quince
94/100
Women'sPants
The Gardener Pull-On Jean
Brand: Everlane
94/100
Women'sPantsDenim
Long Denim Shirt
Brand: H&M
91/100
Women'sShirts
AE Stretch Barrel Jean
Brand: American Eagle
91/100
Women'sPants
Women's Soft Merino Long Sleeve Tee
Brand: Allbirds
90/100
Women'sTanksActivewearShirts
Women's Soft Merino Tee - True Black
Brand: Allbirds
90/100
Women'sTanksShirts
Non-toxic clothing guides where Tencel Lyocell matters
Tencel Lyocell shows up frequently in these categories. Each guide explains which fibers and finishes to look for and to avoid.
Common questions
Does Tencel Lyocell clothing shed microplastics?
Tencel Lyocell has no listed microplastic polymer in MaterialsDB, though garment construction and washing still affect fiber release.
Is Tencel Lyocell biodegradable?
Tencel Lyocell has no half-life penalty in MaterialsDB, which is a better biodegradability signal than petroleum-based synthetics.
How should I check a Tencel Lyocell blend?
Use the Greener Closet material-label checker with the full percentage label, because blends can change the final score even when Tencel Lyocell is only one part of the garment.