Trade, Industry and Energy 1st Vice Minister Jang Young-jin held the Eco-Friendly Textiles Industry Conference on August 24 at COEX in Seoul to seek public-private joint measures for eco-friendly, low-carbon strategies in response to global green trends in the fashion enterprise.
The global textiles market is seeing emerging trends of environmental regulations, consumer awareness of environmental values and global fashion brands’ pursuit of sustainable development, all of which forecast a rapid expansion of green and recycled fashion.
Approximately 6-10 percent, 20 percent and 20-35 percent of greenhouse gases, water pollution and seawater microplastics, respectively, are attributable to the textiles industry. Meanwhile, the global market for eco-friendly textiles is estimated to reach USD 101.9 billion (up 8.5 percent) by 2030, which will be roughly 7.2 percent of the entire textiles industry.
However, South Korea’s eco-friendly fashion industry occupies only 2 percent (KRW 1 trillion) of the entire domestic market. Despite the MZ generation’s value-oriented consumption tendencies, relatively higher prices and weaker eco-friendly brand awareness are some factors keeping their wallets shut.
Not only that, but inadequate domestic technologies in biodegradation, textiles recycling, and fabrics recycling system are obstructing Korea’s runway to becoming a green fashion powerhouse.
Vice Minister Jang stated during his opening remarks that “eco-friendly textiles are the EVs of the automobile industry, and is an inevitable challenge Korea must overcome in tackling carbon neutral and environmental issues.” He called for “preemptive investment,” so as to win competitiveness in major markets like China and Southeast Asia.
Accordingly, the Ministry will be supporting the textiles and fashion industry’s sustainable transformation by focusing on the following three goals: 1) public procurement and eco-friendly textiles market expansion 2) development of biodegradation, recycling and eco-friendly textiles technology and 3) textile waste and resources circulation ecosystem management.
The first aim is to expand the eco-friendly textiles market by stimulating the use of green materials of domestic fashion businesses and inducing purchase preferences of green fabrics in areas of public procurement.
These aims will mean supporting exporter SMEs’ global eco-friendly certification processes and entering major overseas exhibitions.
The second goal is eco-friendly materials development and procedural innovation through various means of supporting technology development and demonstrations, including biodegradation and waterless dyeing, biomass fibers, chemical separation and recycling of waste textiles.
In addition, old production facilities will be replaced with higher-efficiency equipment, such as those that enable waste heat recovery. Also, dyeing industry complexes may need to transition their power source to green energy.
The third goal is to create a textiles fashion ecosystem where resources are circulated. For example, clothing brand stores can be utilized as venues for collecting old clothes and recycling. Moreover, improving the materials indicating labels can help speed up the waste apparel sorting process.
During the conference, another exhibition called “Preview in Seoul (PIS) 2022” garnered attention with domestic fabrics and eco-friendly fashion themes, in which 311 domestic and overseas companies will run a total of 522 booths through August 24-26.
Among numerous participants, Hyosung TNC showcased a form of polyester fabric called “Regen Korea” made from PET bottles collected nationwide, as well as their bio spandex material called “Creora Biobased” made with corn-extracted natural resources. Compared to conventional spandex, Creora Biobased spandex requires 39 percent less water and generates 23 percent less CO2.
Coresh Tech introduced its biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) made with cane sugar starch, and Taekwang Industrial displayed its recycled socks and baseball uniform made out of PET bottles.
A “green” fashion show was also held with the participation of two renowned Korean designers and 15 eco-friendly textiles companies, drawing much attention.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to establish a comprehensive strategy for Korea’s textiles and fashion industry that incorporates ideas on eco-friendly, low-carbon, digital transition and industrial textiles.