With growing pressure on the textile and apparel industry to meet tough decarbonization goals, material suppliers are stepping up to lead sustainable changes early in the supply chain. At the Sourcing Journal Fall Summit, panel, Malvina Hoxha, U.S. director of textiles marketing at Hyosung TNC, explained how the company is expanding bio-based materials and working with partners to help brands meet their climate targets.

A key part of Hyosung’s strategy is investing heavily in bio-based spandex, aiming to offer a wide range of sustainable options. “When we look at sustainability, sheer volumes and performance needs for brands and retailers, we need a plethora of solutions, and we have a portfolio approach to this,” Hoxha said.

To move from early material ideas to full-scale production, Hyosung invested up to $1 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Vietnam. This integrated plant uses BDO (butanediol), an important ingredient made from sugar cane, to provide raw materials for textiles, footwear, packaging and automotive industries.

To execute this systems-level approach without prior background, Hyosung teamed up with sugar trader Czarnikow. “We don’t have capabilities and know-how around sugar,” Hoxha said. “We know how to produce fiber. So, it was critical there to align ourselves to partners that really understand that landscape.

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