Hyosung has announced its Bio-BDO (Butanediol) production plant project has got the green light from the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Government in Vietnam.
The company claimed it will be the "first in the world" to establish a vertically integrated production system for bio-spandex, from raw material to fibre.
Hyosung explained it will be using US-based sustainable material and technology company Geno's technology to fast track the project and unlock the production and selling of Bio-BDO with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons in the first half of 2026.
The company added it understands the growing demand of sustainable products in the global market, which is why it is investing $1bn to establish multiple Bio-BDO production plants capable of producing 200,000 tons annually.
Hyosung's chairman, Hyun-Joon Cho believes the bio business, which transforms conventional fossil raw materials into eco-friendly ones, will become a core pillar of Hyosung for the next 100 years.
Cho added: "We will enhance Hyosung's premium brand status by strengthening our global sustainable market penetration based on our consistent production system of Bio-BDO and Bio Spandex."
The new Bio-BDO factory in Vietnam
Hyosung shared that it will produce the Bio-BDO at its factory in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, manufacture PTMG at a nearby factory in Dong Nai, in the south of Ho Chi Minh City, and then use this to mass-produce regen BIO spandex at the Dong Nai Spandex factory.
Additionally, Hyosung said the integrated production system for bio-spandex is optimised for customers in the global sustainable textiles market, including brands and retailers in Asia, Europe and the United States.
According to Hyosung, this system enhances production efficiency through a stable raw material supply and allows for swift responses to market needs by speeding up production system operations. It added that this also ensures "cost competitiveness" through reduced transportation costs and alleviates environmental impact by saving the fuel used for transportation.
The company explained BDO is a chemical used as a raw material for spandex (PTMG), which is used to make spandex fibre. In addition to spandex (PTMG) fibre, BDO can also be used for engineering plastics, biodegradable packaging, footwear soles, industrial compounds, and other industries.
Hyosung highlighted that Bio-BDA is manufactured by fermenting sugars derived from sugarcane, replacing reliance on traditional fossil raw materials such as coal by 100%.
The company said it expects to "attract a significant attention" in the sustainable materials market with its new innovation.
Forging new partnerships
Hyosung believes its partnership with Geno's "already proven at commercial scale" technology will enable greater supply chain resilience, performance, and sustainability impact for many of the world's largest brands and suppliers.
The company also hopes to contribute to the expansion of the white biotechnology market by transforming key raw materials in the chemical industry into sustainable alternatives based on its Bio-BDO business.
Last year Hyosung partnered with carbon negative materials company, Origin Materials, to industrialise sustainable high-value speciality materials, including spandex inputs.
