Hyosung explains transition to sugarcane
04/08/2025
Last year, Hyosung partnered Geno to start construction at its Vietnam plant to produce Bio-BDO derived from sugarcane.
For more than two decades, Geno has been developing and scaling technology to enable the production of materials derived from plant- or waste-based feedstocks instead of fossil fuels.
Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Hyosung’s sustainability director for textiles, said: “Sugarcane has a higher yield per hectare than corn and is more effective at sequestering carbon. Sugarcane’s byproduct, bagasse, can be used as a renewable energy source, further reducing its carbon footprint.”
There is no change in the characteristics or the bio-based content of the bio spandex itself, he added. The functionality and quality of the spandex remain consistent, allowing customers to enjoy the same product while benefiting from a renewable input material.
The Vietnamese facility expects to start production in the first half of next year, with the potential of producing up to 50,000 tons of bio-BDO by the end of 2026.
Hyosung plans to transition existing customers and their value chains from its Gen 1 corn-based spandex to its Gen 2 sugarcane-based version starting next year.
Pangaia has adopted Hyosung’s regen Bio spandex. “The ongoing use of bio-based materials by such a pioneering brand demonstrates that the bio story resonates strongly with consumers,” Whitmarsh-Knight said. “That said, since bio-based spandex is still relatively new in the market, it may be more important at this stage to first help consumers understand the broader shift from fossil fuels to renewable resources. Once that foundation is established, brands will be better positioned to evolve their storytelling with more nuanced details about the specific feedstocks being used.”
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