Helping to restore ocean health with recycled MIPAN regen ocean nylon and regen ocean polyester.

According to the WWF, at least 10 per cent of marine litter is estimated to be made up of fishing waste, which means that between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear are entering the ocean every year.

Hyosung is turning ocean trash into treasure with its Ocean Protection Initiative, which it highlighted at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market that took place June 9-11, 2022 in Denver, CO. The initiative began with the development of Hyosung’s MIPAN regen ocean nylon and regen ocean polyester, both made with ocean waste.

MIPAN regen ocean is GRS certified, 100 per cent recycled nylon made from discarded fishing nets and other reclaimed nylon waste. Hyosung conducts an extensive collection, chemical recycling and creation process in order to produce exceptional quality yarn that meets brands’ expectations.

Hyosung’s regen ocean is 100 per cent recycled polyester fibre made from ocean plastic, which is Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) certified. This certification was created by Zero Plastic Oceans to transparently certify that plastic waste is correctly collected and managed. MIPAN regen ocean will receive OBP certification in the first quarter of 2023.

“Cleaning up our oceans is of critical importance to Hyosung and many of our brand partners,” said Mike Simko, Hyosung global marketing director-Textiles. “Our ocean-based recycled fibre offering will allow brands to develop eco-friendly products that align with their sustainability needs, and also help provide them with a meaningful story their consumers can connect with.”

Continuous Innovation

At the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Hyosung also presented a broad assortment of fabrics and  concept garments developed by its Fashion Design Center (FDC) to help product developers and designers conceive garments made with its innovative yarns.

These fibres include:

• creora� regen: GRS certified, 100% recycled spandex

• creora� bio-based: spandex made with 30% dent corn

• MIPAN regen robic: 100% recycled high-tenacity nylon

• xanadu: a mechanical-stretch fibre made from a blend of PET and corn-based materials

• regen xanadu: made with a blend of recycled post-consumer PET and corn-based materials.

“Through a recent brand partner survey, we’ve learned that most have individual sustainability priorities,” said Simko. “We are fortunate to have broad portfolio of sustainable solutions to meet brands’ diverse needs.”