Latest news with #Polartec®Alpha™
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hyosung Transitioning Bio-Based Spandex Feedstock from Corn to Sugar
How sweet it is. Hyosung, the world's largest producer of spandex by market share, leaned into sustainable stretch with its bio-based spandex made from dent corn feedstock. Ever since, it has been aiming to increase the content of its regen™ BIO Spandex, and now, it's found a solution in sugar. More from Sourcing Journal Polartec® Alpha™ Celebrates 13 Years of Game-Changing Active Insulation The RAW Edition by US Denim Mills Brings Nature's Unfiltered Spirit to Life Sustainability Takes Pressure, Policies Says Kering Exec The sugarcane-based bio-BDO is part of Hyosung's plan to support the textile industry in reducing carbon emissions by moving to more circular business models. Last year, Hyosung partnered with sustainable materials leader, Geno, to start construction at its Vietnam plant to produce Bio-BDO derived from sugarcane, powered by Geno's proprietary BDO technology. For more than two decades, Geno has been developing and scaling technology to enable the production of sustainable materials derived from plant- or waste-based feedstocks instead of fossil fuels. The Korea-based fiber manufacturer cites three specifics for the sugarcane upgrade. 'First, sugarcane has a higher yield per hectare than corn. Second, sugarcane is more effective at sequestering carbon than corn. Third, sugarcane's byproduct, bagasse, can be used as a renewable energy source, further reducing its carbon footprint,' said Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Hyosung's global sustainability director-textiles, adding that there is no compromise on durability and performance compared to corn, or even traditional spandex. There is no change in the characteristics or the bio-based content of the bio spandex itself, stressed Whitmarsh-Knight. The functionality and quality of the spandex remain consistent, allowing customers to enjoy the same high-performance product while benefiting from a renewable input material. Hyosung will be utilizing the bio-BDO facilities at its plant in Vietnam. The facility expects to start production in the first half of next year, with the potential of producing up to 50,000 tons of bio-BDO by the end of 2026. 'For the first time, the industry will have an integrated supply of bio-based spandex in one region, from raw material to fiber,' said Whitmarsh-Knight. 'This provides significant benefits to our customers such as faster speed to market, reduced development times and a more robust supply chain.' Having pioneered the use of sugarcane in spandex, Hyosung had the opportunity to develop a new value chain for this product, one also linked to traceability, transparency and certification. 'It was essential that we found a partner who had the practical knowledge, value chain connections and consulting expertise to help us build and track this new system,' said Whitmarsh-Knight. 'Having researched the market in depth, we decided that CZ (Czarnikow) offered the optimum balance of direct connections with farmers, logistical experience and sustainability know-how. In addition, their VIVE platform provides well-established structure and processes to trace the product from farm to manufacturing facility.' Hyosung's brand and retail partners have already reaped the benefits of adding regen™ BIO spandex to fabric blends with other bio-based fibers, not to mention using it as a renewable stretch engine with cotton and merino wool. Hyosung plans to transition existing customers and their value chains from its Gen 1 corn-based spandex to its Gen 2 sugarcane-based version starting next year. And since every brand takes a unique approach to sustainability according to their goals, Hyosung has expanded its bio Spandex offering to include various options for the yarn to be made with a higher content of renewable resources to include regen BIO + and regen BIO Max. Backed by third-party verified data and independent Life Cycle Assessments, regen™ BIO Max elastane delivers a 27 percent lower carbon footprint and 82 percent less ozone depletion than conventional spandex, marking a meaningful shift towards circular, regenerative materials. Making the transition even easier is the fact that the structure and ratio of bio-based content remain consistent even when switching the feedstock from corn to sugarcane. PANGAIA, the materials science company at the intersection of science, purpose and design, has successfully brought Hyosung's regen BIO spandex to commercial use and is on board for the sugarcane transition. Starting from Women's activewear, expanding to Men's, and now extending into their new 365 Seamless range with regen BIO Max, this continuous adoption highlights PANGAIA's deep understanding and trust in bio-based products as part of their innovative sustainability strategy. 'The ongoing use of bio-based materials by such a pioneering brand demonstrates that the bio story resonates strongly with consumers,' said Whitmarsh-Knight. 'It is clear evidence that our product is growing within both the fashion industry and sustainability movement.' How each brand messages this material to their end consumers will ultimately depend on their respective communication strategy, but Whitmarsh-Knight feels sugarcane has the potential to resonate well with consumers interested in bio-based materials. 'That said, since bio-based spandex is still relatively new in the market, it may be more important at this stage to first help consumers understand the broader shift from fossil fuels to renewable resources. Once that foundation is established, brands will be better positioned to evolve their storytelling with more nuanced details about the specific feedstocks being used,' he said. Beyond textiles, Hyosung also plans to also use its bio-BDO in footwear, packaging and automotive, so moving this to bio-BDO will represent a significant saving in carbon emissions across multiple industries. To learn more about Hyosung's textile materials, click here.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AGI Denim's Apparel Park: A LEED Platinum Pioneer in Sustainable Denim Manufacturing
AGI Denim's new Apparel Park is setting a powerful example of how large-scale production can be reimagined to lower environmental impact while supporting worker wellbeing, as sustainability continues to reshape global manufacturing. The state-of-the-art facility in Karachi, Pakistan, has already earned top sustainability credentials, including LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, one of the highest honors in green building worldwide. 'LEED certifications evaluate buildings on a range of sustainability measures, including energy and water efficiency, carbon emissions and material use. Platinum status, which is the highest level achievable, reflects strong performance across all categories. Our Apparel Park's LEED Platinum certification demonstrates leadership in sustainability as we drive greater accountability across the industry,' said Henry Wong, vice president of product development and marketing at AGI Denim. More from Sourcing Journal Polartec® Alpha™ Celebrates 13 Years of Game-Changing Active Insulation Hyosung Transitioning Bio-Based Spandex Feedstock from Corn to Sugar The RAW Edition by US Denim Mills Brings Nature's Unfiltered Spirit to Life Part of what distinguishes AGI Denim's Apparel Park is its early-stage planning and integration of sustainable design practices. The facility is situated in an urban area, which encourages public transit, cycling and walkability, choices that help limit employee transportation-related emissions. Additionally, about 40 percent of the site is devoted to green space, which aids in rainwater management and supports local ecosystems. Water conservation has also been a focus. In fact, the facility has reduced its freshwater use by an estimated 30 to 35 percent by incorporating a combination of low-flow fixtures, drip irrigation systems and gray water reuse strategies. On the energy front, the vertical denim manufacturer reports that 30 percent of Apparel Park's power comes from renewable sources, including biomass and photovoltaic energy, the process of converting sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials. Inside the facility, attention to worker health is visible in features like improved air quality, access to natural light and use of non-toxic building materials. These elements align with an industry-wide shift toward prioritizing both environmental and human well-being in manufacturing spaces. As part of its commitment to employee well-being, AGI Denim also introduced a childcare unit and dispensary facility at the Apparel Park. AGI Denim has also looked beyond its own operations, developing solutions in collaboration with regional and global partners. For example, the Apparel Park aligns with frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Oeko-Tex. 'While certifications like LEED Platinum signal progress, they also raise questions about scalability and accessibility across the industry. Apparel Park serves as a case study in how denim manufacturing can evolve, but whether this model can be adopted more broadly across different geographies and economic contexts remains to be seen,' said Wong. 'Still, as brands and suppliers navigate mounting pressure to decarbonize, facilities like Apparel Park illustrate what's currently possible and where challenges still lie.' To learn more about AGI Denim and its Apparel Park, click here.
