• Hyosung TNC, a spandex specialist, starts supplying to Carbon, a global 3D printing company
• ECOTRION produces 40% less greenhouse gas than existing petrochemical products – Drawing great interest in global and export markets

SK chemicals is planning to tap into the high-performance textile and sporting goods material markets with its bio-based green material, ECOTRION.

SK chemicals (CEO: Jeon Kwang-hyun) announced on the 25th that the company has started supplying ECOTRION, a naturally-derived material, to Hyosung TNC, a spandex specialist, and Carbon, a global 3D printing company.

“ECOTRION” is an eco-friendly polyol produced by fermenting only plants as raw materials. The polyol is used as an essential base material for manufacturing urethane elastomers, spandex, artificial leather, etc. In particular, ECOTRION is an eco-friendly material that produces 40% less greenhouse gas emissions than existing petrochemical products. It is attracting attention from companies in the global textile and sporting goods markets, especially in the EU and other regions where carbon regulations are being strengthened. Hyosung TNC recently launched the world's first eco-friendly bio-based spandex, “Creora® Bio-Based”, by using SK chemicals' ECOTRION. Starting with the production of Creora® Bio-Based within Korea, Hyosung TNC plans to expand to global production bases such as Vietnam in the future to advance into the global market in earnest.

SK chemicals is also supplying ECOTRION to Carbon, a U.S. 3D printing company that produces premium sporting goods materials. Carbon applies ECOTRION to its 3D printing liquid resin to produce high-performance sporting goods that require shock absorption and support. The resin is then supplied to global sports brands.

Meanwhile, SK chemicals participated in the NW Materials Show, a famous footwear exhibition in the western United States, held on the 10th to promote ECOTRION. The material received great responses from the show’s attendees. Following the trend of preferring eco-friendly and sustainable materials and methods, recycled and bio-based material products are receiving widespread attention. SK chemicals said there was a great deal of interest in ECOTRION at the exhibition - many major global sports brands expressed interest in the application of ECOTRION.

According to Mirae Asset Securities’ Global Sportswear Report, the global sportswear (including footwear) market is estimated to be worth about KRW 337 trillion in 2021 and is expected to show a high annual growth rate of 7% by 2025. Data Bridge, a global market research firm, predicts that the bio-based fiber market will grow at an average annual rate of 5.5% until 2029.

“Based on the excellent physical properties of ECOTRION, we are expanding its use into premium products in sports apparel and goods,” said Jeong Jae-joon, head of SK chemicals’ New Business Development Division. He added, “The demand for SK chemicals’ ECOTRION is expected to continuously grow in line with the global commitment to reduce carbon and embrace sustainable consumption trends.”


# Photo Description : Bio-based spandex clothing using ECOTRION (Source: Hyosung TNC)