South Korea-based chemical company Hyosung TNC plans to commercialize the world’s first bio-based spandex. Known as ‘Creora bio-based’, the spandex was derived using a natural material extracted from corn instead of coal, and obtained a global eco-friendly certification.
The ‘Creora bio-based’ spandex uses a corn-derived substance that obtained an eco-friendly certificate from the US Department of Agriculture, replacing a part of coal-extracted raw materials. The corn-derived substance has long been used for general fibres, wrapping papers, cosmetics, and liquid detergents, but not for high-functional textiles, such as spandex, as it is impossible to deliver unique elasticity and resilience due to technological limitations.
Hyosung TNC will initially start production of the bio-based spandex at its production bases in South Korea including facilities in Gumi, and then increase its production through global production bases, such as those in Vietnam.
In addition, it aims to continuously increase the use of natural raw materials for its products through collaboration with global fashion brands.
