Huvis (CEO Shin, You Dong, 079980), specializing in chemical and fiber materials, has released some eco-friendly clothing, which makes use of “Ecoen” (a biodegradable fiber brand from Huvis), for the first time in Korea, together with The North Face (Youngone Outdoor Company’s global outdoor brand). 
North Face released a sweatshirt (under the product name of ManToMan) , which has been on sale at the North Face online/offline stores since mid-September for the fall and winter seasons, making use of the 100% biodegradable yarn.

The eco-friendly biodegradable clothing is able to be produced thanks to Ecoen, a biodegradable polyester fiber that was developed by Huvis for the first time in Korea.
Other leading chemical companies around the world are also developing biodegradable materials (plastics) using raw natural materials, such as corn and bamboo, but their use is limited due to their weak physical properties.
Huvis changed its mind and instead focused its attention on developing perishable polyester. Polyester, a raw material used in PET bottles, has a hard molecular structure, so it does not break over time. Therefore, Huvis took this polyester and changed the physical properties by mixing materials that are biodegradable, such as PLA, PHB, and PBS. As a result, Huvis was able to successfully develop a biodegradable fiber while maintaining the rigid properties of polyester.

Huvis and The North Face agreed to pursue sustainable fashion using eco-friendly materials and started developing products with Ecoen from April this year.
Unlike disposable food containers, clothing usually needs to have a long service life. Due to the nature of yarn, if the biodegradability is increased, the physical properties are usually weakened. On the other hand, if durability is increased, it takes a lot of time for the material to biodegrade when buried after use. Therefore, it is important to set optimal conditions for use in textile applications.
Biodegradable clothing made of Ecoen usually has a lifespan of 5 to 10 years, so clothes do not come apart or biodegrade naturally in the closet. Washing can also be done in the same way as for conventional clothes. If the clothing is placed in landfill after use, it is biodegradable within 3 years within a certain temperature and humidity range. In 2019, Huvis developed a method of evaluating biodegradable fibers for the first time in the world, together with the Fiti Test Research Institute, and registered this in ISO, an international standard organization. (ISO21701)

Starting with the launch of sweatshirts this time, the two companies plan to release various outdoor product lineups in the market next year. Huvis also plans to maximize the value of biodegradable materials by diversifying the use of biodegradable yarns in items such as bags and shoes and further expanding its usage to banners and disposable sanitary products, which are used once and then disposed of as waste.

“It is quite meaningful for us to produce clothing made of biodegradable fibers for the first time in Korea, together with The North Face, the best global outdoor brand. We are aiming to establish a complete system for the virtuous circle of resources by developing recyclable and biodegradable fibers that are made from recycled PET bottles and that are capable of biodegradation after use,” said Shin You Dong, CEO of Huvis. 


[Photo] The North Face biodegradable sweatshirts (courtesy of The North Face)
(Product name: ECO Ground Sweatshirt)