Hyosung’s Textile Solutions Help Brands Meet Sustainability Regulations

Impending European Green Deal regulations aim to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, prompting fibre suppliers, mills, brands, and retailers to work towards compliance. 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 per cent recycled polyester from PET bottles. In 2020, we launched RCS-certified 100 per cent 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 Elastane programme to include yarn offerings of higher renewable resource content, plus 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 have started work on a new 50,000-ton Bio-BDO (Butanediol) facility at our Vietnam site, with plans to expand to 200,000 tons annually. This will utilise Geno’s proven plant-based Geno™ BDO™ technology, which ferments sugars derived from sugarcane to replace the 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 leading Los Angeles-based material science company, to become the first manufacturer in South Korea to introduce circular polyester into supply chains. This innovation enables us to repurpose end-of-life textiles into high-performance fibres for brands seeking to reduce their environmental impact. We are also exploring additional technologies, with further updates to be announced later this year.{C}What question do your customers ask the most?
I would say: ‘How can you help us reach our unique sustainability impact objectives and provide accurate and trustworthy data to measure this impact?’
     As a fibre innovator, the road to sustainability often starts with us. So, we must keep innovating for the future to predict and meet our supply chain needs. We also need to continually provide them with trusted certifications and independent LCA documentation, not to mention the necessary educational tools to help them share their unique journey to sustainability. Regulations, digitalisation and recycling are top of everyone’s mind!

Is there one sustainable solution over another that brands tend to be leaning towards?
Sustainable strategies vary widely among brands. For example, some customers have been committed to using recycled materials for a significant time and are now looking to expand their fabric offerings to include materials made from renewable resources. On the other hand, there are fashion and retail customers who prefer 100 per cent recycled materials and are not yet ready to explore fabrics made from bio-based fibres. Nevertheless, through communication and education about new sustainable technologies, we have observed an increased willingness among brands and retailers to incorporate these options into their product lines.