HYOSUNG TNC

As environmental destruction worsens, the question arises: for how long can humanity survive? By measuring global environmental degradation, the Environmental Doomsday Clock can provide insight into this sense of crisis. Since the Rio Environmental Conference in 1992, the Asahi Glass Foundation of Japan has conducted an annual survey, seeking insights from environmental experts across 90+ countries, including representatives from governments, NGOs, academia, and corporations. This survey’s results are represented on a scale ranging from 0 to 12, with lower numbers indicating a relatively calm state and higher numbers reflecting increasing levels of anxiety. It provides an overview of our collective plight. The Korean Environmental Doomsday Clock stood at 9:28 in 2022, signaling that the country's environmental destruction was reaching a dangerous point. However, the greater concern lies in that, even at that moment, the second hand of the clock continued to move.

How does Hyosung TNC plan to reset the Environmental Doomsday Clock? Hyosung TNC aims to introduce a fresh ECO-LIFESTYLE approach, encompassing sustainable ESG management, environmental and social responsibility, and effective governance. In addition, the company develops sustainable materials and fabrics to minimize our daily carbon footprint. Let’s take a closer look at Hyosung TNC's sustainable lifestyle proposal to gauge its potential impact on the Environmental Doomsday Clock.

Hyosung TNC's Sustainable ESG Management Practice for the Future of the Next Generation

All companies are responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the face of the climate crisis.  Hyosung TNC recognizes this responsibility and actively strives to fulfill it. Hyosung TNC factories transition to low-carbon energy sources to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The company extracts renewable energy by from nearby municipal waste incinerators and wastewater treatment plants by utilizing heat and biogas. In particular, the Gumi plant reduced emissions with cleaner alternatives like LNG and LPG. Through a gradual increase in the adoption of LNG and LPG instead of high-emission B-C oil. With the gradual adoption of LNG and LPG, B-C oil has been completely phased out as of 2019. To further increase the share of sustainable energy within our operations, we are exploring wind and solar power, among other renewable options.

Hyosung TNC also implements an annual environmental investment plan for each plant, replacing equipment with high-efficiency alternatives, contributing to energy conservation and environmental stewardship. The Daegu Plant has actively participated in Korea Industrial Complex Corporation’s 'Seongseo Industrial Complex Smart Energy Platform Establishment Project' since 2020. As part of this project, the plant installed 20 measuring instruments in a power facility with a large rated capacity and established a factory energy management system.

EcoMaterial for the Next Generation, an Eco-friendly Yarn Brand for Carbon Reduction: regen

Hyosung TNC's utmost commitment to sustainable societal development lies in the promotion of environmentally friendly clothing materials. Hyosung TNC has recently revitalized the eco-friendly yarn brand 'regen' for carbon reduction based on our sustainable material technology. The refreshed logo of regen now incorporates the vision and mindfulness of Hyosung, reflecting our commitment to environmental considerations. The circular shape within the regen logo, aptly named "ECO-EYE," represents "eyes looking at the earth," symbolizing the core principles of the circular economy.  Hyosung TNC has been actively expanding the range of environmentally friendly yarns as part of our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This initiative began in 2008 with the launch of regen polyester, the first in Korea to be made from recycled plastic bottles. By utilizing natural materials such as corn, discarded plastic bottles, and fishing nets, Hyosung TNC has developed a portfolio of low-carbon, eco-friendly yarn products that contribute to the establishing a circular economy in the domestic apparel industry.

Resources Abandoned on the Earth, Returns Back to Us as An Eco-friendly Material: regen

In 2007, Hyosung TNC pioneered the production of regen polyester yarn in Korea using recycled PET bottles when environmental awareness was relatively low. Furthermore, we achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first company in the world to commercialize nylon yarn extracted from discarded fishing nets. Starting in 2020, Hyosung TNC began developing a product portfolio of low-carbon yarns based on the principles of the circular economy for the domestic apparel industry. As part of its commitment to achieving this vision, Hyosung TNC partnered with leading organizations across the industrial value chain, including the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, POSCO, Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, Jeju, Seoul, and others. Our collaborations created regen Jeju Polyester and regen Seoul Polyester, derived from discarded PET bottles originating from Jeju and Seoul respectively. Further, Hyosung TNC collaborated with Busan and eco-friendly startup NETSPA, to produce regen Ocean Nylon, which recycles discarded fishing nets. By taking this initiative, Hyosung TNC is contributing to carbon reduction and addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Hyosung TNC intends to positively impact the global textile market by expanding its use of eco-friendly yarns beyond Korea.

Additionally to recycling discarded materials, Hyosung TNC has developed "regen Bio-based" that use corn, a natural raw material, in place of fossil-based materials. For the first time worldwide, Hyosung TNC has processed and commercialized corn as a raw material for high-performance textile.  Comparing regen Bio-based spandex to conventional spandex products, life cycle assessments (LCA) revealed a 39% reduction in water usage and a 23% reduction in carbon emissions. This reduction is equals the carbon emissions absorbed by 378 pine trees per year. Hyosung TNC incorporates additional functionalities such as cooling, heating, high strength, and elasticity to produce a wide range of low-carbon fiber materials in this innovative recycled fiber regeneration technology.

A Society that Works Together, A Company that Grows Together

Hyosung TNC considers safety to be the utmost priority at the workplace. We are committed to achieving ZERO accidents related to safety and health through our environmental safety VISION of establishing accident-free work environments. As part of our ongoing commitment to safety, we promote a safety culture and provide a safe and enjoyable working environment for all employees, including those from partner companies, by preventing accidents and fostering a strong safety culture. Our commitment is reflected in the active engagement of workers in the field to identify and prioritize necessary programs. By valuing their input, we ensure our initiatives align with their needs. For instance, we have implemented anti-smoking and obesity programs in collaboration with local public health centers to promote the health and well-being of our employees. Additionally, we have implemented hearing preservation programs for employees who work in noisy environments to protect their hearing.

In addition to safety measures, Hyosung TNC offers support in a variety of domains to small venture partners. By leveraging our extensive global networks and textile technology expertise, we offer our partners opportunities to participate in international textile exhibitions, enhancing their global presence. Moreover, Hyosung TNC actively supports SME's whose overseas exhibitions have been disrupted by the pandemic by facilitating online video meetings with overseas brands as part of our shared growth policy focused on increasing the competitiveness of our partners for mutual growth.

Hyosung TNC embraces the philosophy that "Teamwork makes the dream work." As a socially responsible company, we are deeply committed to this philosophy. In this regard, we prioritize implementing our unique ESG management approach, which enhances the sustainability of our society.

Hyosung's Response for the Future Generations, Sustainable RE:GEN ECO-LIFESTYLE

Through our ESG brand RE:GEN, Hyosung Group strives to create distinctive ESG values. Since Hyosung Group recognizes that effective ESG management requires more than just good intentions, we actively seek partners who share our commitment and collaborate to build a sustainable world based on substantial business practices. Moreover, Hyosung Group aims to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle for future generations by developing environmentally friendly technologies, expanding the brand narrative, and serving as a growth model that fosters a new ESG ecosystem.

Hyosung TNC remains dedicated to promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle centered around the 'regen' brand of environmentally conscious yarns. Aligned with the vision of Hyosung Group's RE:GEN initiative, which aims to address the needs of future generations, Hyosung TNC continuously strives to contribute towards enabling individuals to embrace a sustainable way of life. Hyosung TNC's new slogan, "Innovation for a Better Lifestyle and Tomorrow, encapsulates these endeavors and aspirations.

Hyosung TNC embodies the value of 'together' by leading an environmentally friendly lifestyle that benefits all generations. As a leading company in low-carbon yarn manufacturing, we're committed to helping you achieve a sustainable lifestyle.