Huvis : develops Korea’s first-ever biodegradable recycled fiber, ‘ecoen-R’

Huvis, specializing in chemical and fiber materials, announced on the 11th that the Company had developed Korea's first-ever biodegradable recycled fiber, 'ecoen-R', which is recycled from plastic waste and is biodegradable when reclaimed.
As non-contact, online platforms have become integral parts of our daily routines during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of disposable plastic has continued to increase. However, conventional plastic does not decompose when it is reclaimed underground, which leads to environmental pollution. Plus, if it is incinerated, it also causes air pollution.
To address such challenges, some Korean companies have been attempting to develop recycled fiber materials. As recycled fiber is produced from plastic waste rather than petroleum, it can help reduce carbon footprint, but with the limitation that plastic waste is still unavoidable.
Thinking outside of of the box, Huvis added a biodegradable quality to its plastic-recycled fiber and succeeded in developing the biodegradable recycled fiber brand 'ecoen-R,' which is capable of complete degradation in nature.
As ecoen-R relies on supplies of recycled materials sourced in Korea rather than those imported from overseas, it can help with plastic waste issues in Korea, enjoying stable availability of raw materials. Furthermore, the product features excellent durability and thermal resistance when compared with conventional biomass solutions, and is highly resistant to heat while being easily dyeable, which facilitates downstream processing operations. On top of which, it is capable of breaking down within three years if reclaimed and if it is kept under specified temperature and humidity conditions,
An official at Huvis said, "After thinking about a sustainable eco-friendly fiber solution that can meet the requirements for both environmental protection and a virtuous resource cycle, we have developed ecoen-R, a biodegradable recycled fiber, with commercialization being slated for 20222. With this, Huvis aims to become a front-runner in the eco-friendly fiber market, meeting the diverse needs of customers in the market and developing chemically recycled fiber sourced from clothing waste."
Meanwhile, Huvis deployed a high-purity recycled chip production plant using raw materials recycled in Korea in April. The company also implemented Korea's first recycled fiber production system producing recycled fiber brand 'Ecoever' and released eco-friendly apparel using Korea's first biodegradable fiber 'ecoen' in collaboration with the global outdoor brand North Face in September, with more eco-friendly products to be developed and marketed moving forward.
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