Hyosung TNC, the world’s largest producer of spandex, has announced an investment of $1 billion to develop a fully integrated biobased production system. This system will cover the entire process, from sourcing sugarcane as raw material to producing Bio-BDO, Bio-PTMG, and finally biobased spandex.

The company’s Regen Bio Spandex is created to perform just like traditional elastic fibers, offering similar stretch, recovery, and strength. At the same time, it aims to lower environmental impact, addressing a long-standing challenge where improving sustainability often meant compromising on performance.

Hyosung explained that sugarcane alone is not a complete solution for sustainability. However, its advantage lies in its large-scale availability. Since sugarcane is already part of well-established farming systems, it can ensure a more reliable and steady supply compared to newer, less-developed raw materials.

“At a time when the industry is shifting from promises to real action, Hyosung TNC is offering more than just a product,” said Sora Yoo, vice president of marketing. “It is a scalable system that aims to make biobased materials the standard choice rather than an exception.”