Huvis, specializing in chemical and fiber materials, has developed an eco-friendly biodegradable banner based on its proprietary biodegradable polyester fiber brand ECOEN, in partnership with Korea’s biggest banner supplier, Daehan Media.
 
Banners discarded each year in Korea weigh about 9,000 tons in total. According to a survey by the Korean Ministry of Environment, approximately 200,000 banners are estimated to have been discarded from the 2018 local election to the 2021 by-election, with only 30% of the banners being recycled and the rest either incinerated or reclaimed underground. Buried underground, conventional banners do not biodegrade, contaminating the soil. If incinerated, they also cause air pollution.
 
To address such challenges, some Korean businesses have attempted to use biomass materials made of starch extracted from corn or sugar cane. Biomass materials feature excellent biodegradability, but are weak in terms of durability and heat resistance, not suitable as fiber solutions for fashion products or everyday items such as banners due to their constraints in terms of resistance against dyeing load and high heat.
 
The biodegradable banner being jointly developed by Huvis and Daehan Media is made of ECOEN, a biodegradable polyester fiber featuring high thermal resistance. This fiber combines excellent biomass material and highly durable polyester to deliver the same physical properties as those of conventional polyester fibers with the added benefit of environmental protection.
 
In particular, ECOEN can withstand the 160℃ or higher temperatures in the banner coating process and provide excellent dyeing performance required of banner materials. It is also eco-friendly as it biodegrades in three years when reclaimed underground.
 
A source at Daehan Media said, “As the needs of banner suppliers for eco-friendly products are rising in and out of Korea, we chose Huvis as a partner for the joint development of a biodegradable banner brand that can deliver both environmental protection and excellent product quality.”
 
Afterward, a source at Huvis commented, “As eco-friendliness is rising as a buzzword, more and more orders are placed for the biodegradable fiber ECOEN by industries in need of fiber for consumer and industrial applications, whether for clothing or banners,” and added, “Huvis will remain committed to further upgrade our SHE (safety, health and environment) product portfolio in a bid to maintain health and safety and conserve a clean environment for generations to come as a forerunner of ESG management.”
 
Daehan Media, jointly developing the eco-friendly banner brand with Huvis, is Korea’s biggest banner supplier. It was incorporated five decades ago, engaging in advertising materials, digital textile printing, and film businesses.


[Photo] Huvis’ biodegradable polyester fiber brand, ECOEN
ECOEN, the biodegradable polyester fiber developed by Huvis, combines highly biodegradable biomass material with polyester featuring excellent durability to safeguard the environment and ensure ease of operation in downstream processes.