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Aditya Birla (Owner of Grasim Industries and Birla Cellulose)

Products: VSF / Rayon, Lyocell, VFY

Risk Status
Low Risk
Next Gen Solutions
Next Gen
Chemical Management (out of 8)
6.5
Hot Button Score (out of 40)
34 =
中文

Risk of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests

Low Risk

Birla has worked consistently to reduce risk in its supply chain and currently has low risk of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests. Birla is currently undergoing it’s fourth CanopyStyle Audit. 

The company owns a mill near Ancient and Endangered Forests in Canada’s Boreal, but this mill is currently closed. Prior to the mill closing, Birla and Canopy actively explored conservation solutions that seek to conserve 70% of these Ancient and Endangered Forests. Space was maintained through procurement decisions to advance this work in 2023, and in 2024 the mill closed and therefore ceased all wood sourcing. Until permanent conservation solutions are developed with the engagement and support of provincial and First Nation decision-makers, the future for Ancient and Endangered Forests in this region remains uncertain.  

Areas where the company is showing leadership

  • Is low risk of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests. 
  • Currently undergoing it’s fourth CanopyStyle Audit. 
  • Has increased its procurement of FSC-certified fibre in 2025.  
  • Has a traceability system called GreenTrack in place which it reports allows customers to track from forest of origin to garment for its Livaeco and Liva Reviva lines.
  • Has called on the UN Climate COP30 to prioritize financial mechanisms to support circularity and nature-based climate solutions.   
  • Have set aside approximately 3500 hectares of land to conserve forest and wetland ecosystems in New Brunswick, Canada, and has worked with the government there to have an additional area placed under conservation.  
  • Continues to invest in R&D in Next Gen Solutions and continues to conduct lab and pilot-scale trials with a wide variety of feedstocks. 
  • Now offers a lyocell product that contains Next Gen Solutions fibre in addition to a viscose staple fibre made from 30–50% recycled cotton textiles called Liva Reviva.
  • Has continued to increase production of Next Gen products, and has participated in collaborative projects with brands, Canopy, and NGOs to scale circular solutions.   

Key Improvements Required

  • Maintain leadership among global viscose producers by continued support of science-based conservation solutions, and upholding the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous communities in Ancient and Endangered Forests within the company’s sphere of influence. 
  • Significantly scale the use of Next Generation Solutions in order to reduce current impacts on forests.  Prioritize the integration and sourcing of Next Generation Solution technologies and feedstocks for future expansion plans and new suppliers.
  • Continue to proactively use ForestMapper and complementary guidance to avoid sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests. 
  • Continue to procure higher volumes of FSC 100% or FSC Mix certified inputs, and prioritize FSC forest management certification on all lands managed by the company. 

Facilities

Birla produces a lyocell fibre with 30% pre- and post-consumer recycled cotton, as well as viscose staple fibre with 30% pre- and post-consumer recycled cotton, both under the brand Liva Reviva. 

Birla currently produces an MMCF fibre made out of FSC-certified bamboo, which is not assessed in detail in the CanopyStyle Audit.  

The company owns eight viscose mills and four dissolving pulp mills. In addition, it owns a kraft pulp mill in Canada’s Boreal Forest, which is currently closed.  

  • AV Cell, Atholville, New Brunswick, Canada: dissolving pulp, 130,000 tonnes 
  • AV Nackawic, Nackawic, New Brunswick, Canada: dissolving pulp, 190,000 tonnes 
  • Domsjo Fabriker AB, Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrland, Sweden: dissolving pulp, 255,000 tonnes 
  • Harihar Polyfibers, Harihar, Karnataka, India: dissolving pulp, 74,000 tonnes 

Total dissolving pulp production: 649,000 tonnes  

  • Grasim Industries Ltd., Nagda, Madhya Pradesh, India: viscose staple fibre, 160,600 tonnes + 16,400 tonnes Excel fibre (non-wovens) 
  • Grasim Industries Ltd., Harihar, Karnataka, India: viscose staple fibre, around 96,000 tonnes  
  • Birla Cellulose, Grasim Industries Ltd., Kharach, Gujarat, India: viscose staple fibre, 173,000 tonnes + 36,500 tonnes Excel fibre (non-wovens) 
  • Grasim Cellulosic Division, Grasim Industries Ltd., Vilayat, Taluka Vagra, Gujarat, India: viscose staple fibre, 438,000 tonnes 
  • Birla Jingwei Fibres Co. Ltd., Xiangfan City, Hubei, China: viscose staple fibre, 88,000 tonnes 
  • Thai Rayon Public Co. Ltd., Amphur Muang, Angthong, Thailand: viscose staple fibre, 151,000 tonnes 
  • PT. Indo Bharat Rayon, Purwakarta, West Java, Indonesia: viscose staple fibre, 212,000 tonnes
  • Indian Rayon, Veraval, Gujarat, India:  viscose filament yarn, 23,000 tonnes 

Total MMCF production capacity is now over 1,300,000 tonnes.

  • AV Terrace Bay, Terrace Bay, Ontario, Canada: kraft pulp, 340,000 tonnes, currently closed

All of Aditya Birla’s mills making VSF have been registered on ZDHC’s platform. Three of the mills (Indonesia, Harihar and Kharach) have not been evaluated in the other modules (wastewater management, air emissions and chemical recovery). The other four mills producing VSF have all achieved good results (mostly progressive level) in the other three modules. As a result, Aditya Birla has a light green flask.

POLICYAUDIT REPORTLIST OF SUPPLIERS

More information

Hot Button Score

34 =

  1. Completion of CanopyStyle Third-Party Verification Audits

    1. Conducts Audits 2/2
    2. Audits published and results acted on2/2
    3. Audit risk results2/2

  2. Contribution to Conservation Legacies

    1. Promotes Ancient and Endangered Forest conservation2/2
    2. Supports conservation targets 1/1
    3. Influences supply chain and decision makers1.5/2
    4. Contributes to legislated protection0.5/2
    5. Extra responsibility: additional support for conservation1/2

  3. Innovation via New Alternative Fibres

    1. Advocates for Next Gen 1/1
    2. Invests in R&D1/1
    3. Has a commercial-scale product 2/2
    4. Publishes targets and timelines2/2
    5. Uses Next Gen pulp0/1
    6. Proportional contribution1.5/2
    7. Implementing ambitious scale-up0.5/2

  4. Adoption of Robust Forest Sourcing Policy

    1. Has a policy2/2
    2. Policy aligns with CanopyStyle2/2

  5. Traceability & Transparency

    1. Has track and trace systems1/1
    2. Publishes list of suppliers2/2
    3. Conducts due diligence in sourcing2/2

  6. Leaders in Supply Chain Shifts

    1. Is responsive and proactive1/1
    2. Acts on FSC preference 1/1
    3. Supports ForestMapper1/1
    4. Addresses risk2/2

  7. Associated with High Risk of Sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests and other Controversial Sources

    1. High risk sourcing0/-5

More information

Sustainable Chemical Management

6.5

  1. Participation in ZDHC

    The company is an active participant in ZDHC, where all of their MMCF facilities have joined the ZDHC Supplier Platform and have access to the MMCF Module. 2/2

  2. Chemical Recovery

    All of the company’s MMCF viscose staple fibre and modal staple fibre facilities have reached at least the Progressive level in their chemical recovery parameters and limit value, according to Chapter 1: ZDHC MMCF Responsible Fibre Production Guidelines V2.21.5/2

  3. Wastewater

    All of the company’s MMCF viscose staple fibre and modal staple fibre facilities have reached at least the Progressive level in their wastewater discharge parameters and limit values, according to Chapter 2: ZDHC MMCF Wastewater Guidelines V2.21.5/2

  4. Air Emissions

    All of the company’s viscose staple fibre and modal staple fibre facilities have reached at least the Progressive level in their hazardous chemicals’ air emissions parameters and limit values, according to Chapter 3: ZDHC MMCF Air Emissions Guidelines V2.21.5/2

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