Hyosung TNC Commits US$1 Billion to Expand Sustainable Bio-Based Materials Business

Hyosung TNC has announced plans to invest US$1 billion in its future bio-based materials business, marking a major step in the company’s long-term sustainability strategy. The investment will support the construction of multiple Bio-BDO production plants in Vietnam with a combined annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes.

Bio-BDO, or bio-based butanediol, is produced through the fermentation of sugarcane-derived sugars instead of conventional fossil-based feedstocks such as coal, significantly reducing carbon emissions. The material is widely used in the manufacture of PTMG, a key raw material for spandex fibres, as well as engineering plastics, biodegradable packaging, footwear soles and industrial compounds. Through the project, Hyosung TNC aims to establish the world’s first fully integrated bio-spandex production system, covering the entire supply chain from raw materials to finished fibre. The company will manufacture Bio-BDO in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province, process PTMG in Dong Nai and subsequently produce regen™ BIO spandex at its existing Vietnamese facilities.

Hyosung TNC is collaborating with US biotechnology company Geno, whose Geno™ BDO technology reportedly offers around 90% carbon avoidance compared with conventional coal-based BDO production. The first production phase, expected in 2026, will initially deliver 50,000 tonnes annually. Chairman Hyun-Joon Cho stated that bio-based materials would become a core growth pillar for the company over the next century as demand for sustainable textiles and low-carbon materials continues to rise globally.

Source: Hyosung