04:34Japan: Tokyo enterprise produces sustainable fibre using Chinese biodegradable plastic
Chemical trading company HighChem uses biodegradable plastic made by Chinese enterprise to produce fiber for garment industry.
Footage filmed at Tokyo-based factory on Friday shows industrial looms weaving yarn. In a showroom, Director of HighChem Yuichi Taka displayed the final product, which turned out to be a diverse collection of garments.
"Apparel is now in a situation where it is difficult to avoid the vicious cycle of biological systems (such as the microplastic problem), but we would like to replace this with more sustainable fibers, such as bio-derived fibers that can be burned or composted, and thereby make the earth a little cleaner while making everyone more fashionable," he said.
Taka claimed that refined yarn not only decomposes under composting conditions but also that "the biomass, or the material itself, is carbon neutral."
"Even if there were no composting, in regions outside of Europe (where composting infrastructure is relatively well developed), it would be disposed of as garbage, and even if it was burned, it would be turned into CO2 and water, which would then become raw material for growing bio-based materials once again, which is this recyclable material," he stressed.
Yuichi Taka concluded that HighChem's "main desire is to use this biodegradable yarn made from corn, called PLA, to develop new products and make a difference in the world."
04:34Chemical trading company HighChem uses biodegradable plastic made by Chinese enterprise to produce fiber for garment industry.
Footage filmed at Tokyo-based factory on Friday shows industrial looms weaving yarn. In a showroom, Director of HighChem Yuichi Taka displayed the final product, which turned out to be a diverse collection of garments.
"Apparel is now in a situation where it is difficult to avoid the vicious cycle of biological systems (such as the microplastic problem), but we would like to replace this with more sustainable fibers, such as bio-derived fibers that can be burned or composted, and thereby make the earth a little cleaner while making everyone more fashionable," he said.
Taka claimed that refined yarn not only decomposes under composting conditions but also that "the biomass, or the material itself, is carbon neutral."
"Even if there were no composting, in regions outside of Europe (where composting infrastructure is relatively well developed), it would be disposed of as garbage, and even if it was burned, it would be turned into CO2 and water, which would then become raw material for growing bio-based materials once again, which is this recyclable material," he stressed.
Yuichi Taka concluded that HighChem's "main desire is to use this biodegradable yarn made from corn, called PLA, to develop new products and make a difference in the world."