SPONSORED CONTENT – Looming European Green Deal regulations to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 have fibre suppliers, mills, brands and retailers striving to comply. Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Hyosung’s global sustainability director – textiles, explains how Hyosung’s broad portfolio of recycled, BIO and circular sustainable textile solutions helps partners meet their impact goals.
What were some industry firsts in Hyosung’s sustainability journey?
Hyosung has led innovation in sustainability for years. In 2007, we became the first company globally to develop recycled nylon from discarded fishing nets. In 2008, we pioneered GRS-certified 100% recycled polyester from PET bottles. In 2020, we launched RCS-certified 100% recycled regen elastane made from reclaimed waste in our production process. To expand beyond recycled products, we were the first company to produce at scale, our USDA and SGS-certified regen BIO Elastane partly made from renewable resources in 2021. Last year, we expanded our regen bio BIO Elastane programme to include yarn offerings of higher renewable resource content, plus we began developing a textile-to-textile recycling programme to address circularity.
What is the update on Hyosung’s new regen bio BDO collaboration with Geno?
We’ve started work on a new 50,000-tonne BIO-BDO(butanediol) facility at our Vietnam facility, with plans to expand to 200,000 tonnes annually. This will utilise Geno’s proven plant-based Geno™ BDO™ technology, which ferments sugars derived from sugarcane to replace fossil raw materials. It will be the world’s first vertically integrated bio-elastane manufacturing plant, streamlining production, improving efficiency and reducing carbon footprint.
How will the new regen BIO Elastane made with sugarcane differ from your existing regen BIO Elastane offering?
Our current regen BIO Elastane offering is partly made from renewable resources from industrial corn, whereas the new version will be made with renewable materials from fully traceable sugarcane platforms. Third-party LCA assessments will confirm significant carbon and water use reductions once the plant is fully operational. Notably, our regen BIO Elastane has the same stretch, recovery, shape-retention and durability as conventional elastane.
Tell us about Hyosung’s textile-to-textile recycling programme?
We have partnered with Ambercycle, a Los Angeles-based leading material science company, to become the first manufacturer in South Korea to introduce a circular polyester into supply chains – allowing us to repurpose end-of-life textiles into high-performance fibres for brands seeking to reduce environmental impact. And we continue to investigate other technologies, with further news to be announced later this year.
How is Hyosung helping to anticipate customers’ concerns around sustainability regulations?
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires industry-wide collaboration. We actively partner with leaders such as Geno, Ambercycle and others to develop circular business models and leverage insights to help customers navigate evolving sustainability requirements.
To learn more about Hyosung’s sustainable textile solutions, please visit https://www.hyosungtextile.com/en.
