South Korean company Hyosung expands its Ocean Protection Initiative

Hyosung began its ocean protection journey in 2007 as the first company to collect and recycle discarded fishing nets that pollute our seas and harm marine life. As more brands began seeking ocean-based recycled materials that align with their unique ocean protection programmes, Hyosung invested in its proprietary recycling process and the increased production of its regen ocean nylon programme to produce high-quality GRS-certified post-consumer yarns made from discarded fishing nets.

Hyosung’s GRS-certified regen ocean nylon programme includes regen ocean robic: high-tenacity recycled nylon from 100 per cent discarded fishing nets, high-tenacity recycled nylon from 50 per cent discarded fishing nets and 50 per cent pre-consumer content; regen ocean nylon: standard-tenacity recycled nylon from 100 per cent discarded fishing nets, standard-tenacity recycled nylon from 50 per cent discarded fishing nets and 50 per cent pre-consumer content, and standard-tenacity recycled nylon from 50 per cent discarded fishing nets and 50 per cent virgin nylon.

Leading pack brand, Osprey, has collaborated with Hyosung to launch the first back packs made with Hyosung’s regen ocean robic high-tenacity nylon made with 100 per cent discarded fishing nets as part of the company’s SS 24 Talon Earth collection. Samples of these new packs is on display at Hyosung’s booth at the show.

“As a complete sustainable textile solutions provider, we are proud of our ability to continually innovate and offer materials that support our customers’ sustainability needs,” said Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Hyosung global marketing director - textiles. “We are excited to see a number of these innovative products made with our new regen ocean fibers that will be launched early next year”.

Hyosung recently completed an independent 3rd party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing the manufacture of 1 kg of regen ocean post-consumer recycled nylon made with discarded fishing nets with the manufacture of 1kg of conventional nylon. The results conclude that manufacture of regen ocean reduces CO2 emissions by 73 per cent, fossil resource use by 75.7 per cent, and water consumption by 98.6 per cent.

At the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Hyosung will also present 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.

A few of these fibres include Creora bio-based spandex: spandex made with 30 per cent renewable resource; Creora regen spandex: RCS-certified, 100 per cent recycled spandex; and regen xanadu: a mechanical-stretch fibre made with a blend of recycled post-consumer PET and corn-based materials.

Additionally, new fabrics developed with Hyosung’s sustainable and functional yarns from partner mills, LeeJo and PNC Textiles will be highlighted at its OR booth #300997-SO.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)