South Korean textile manufacturer Hyosung TNC has begun commercial production of bio-based 1,4-butanediol (bio-BDO) in Vietnam, completing an integrated supply chain for renewable spandex as textile companies seek alternatives to fossil-based raw materials.
The facility has an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes, with expansion planned to 200,000 tonnes in phases depending on market demand. The project forms part of a planned $1 billion investment, according to company announcements reported on October 19.
Bio-BDO is produced by fermenting sugars derived from sugarcane, replacing fossil-based feedstocks traditionally used in conventional BDO manufacturing. The chemical is a key intermediate in producing polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG), which is subsequently used to manufacture spandex, also known as elastane.
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Hyosung supplies the bio-based material to its operations in Dong Nai, southern Vietnam, where the production chain connects renewable chemical inputs with finished regen BIO spandex. The company expects the integrated network to improve supply reliability, enhance production efficiency and reduce transportation requirements.
Hyosung Chairman Hyun-Joon Cho said the integrated production system connecting bio-based raw materials with finished spandex fibre would become a core pillar of the group’s long-term strategy.
The resulting fibre is intended for applications including sportswear, swimwear, intimate apparel and denim. According to the company, the bio-based alternative maintains the stretch, recovery and quality characteristics of conventional spandex.
Sugarcane sourcing and traceability are verified through the VIVE Sustainable Programme, while the bio-based content is certified under SGS’s Environmentally Evaluated Product Scheme.
Beyond textiles, Hyosung plans to expand the use of bio-based chemical intermediates in products such as thermoplastic polyurethane for automotive interiors and polybutylene adipate terephthalate, a resin used in biodegradable plastics.
The investment builds on the company’s earlier development of corn-based regen BIO spandex, commercialised in 2022, and its recycled fibre technologies using discarded PET bottles and fishing nets.
The Vietnam project strengthens Hyosung’s position in renewable materials as fashion brands increasingly seek traceable alternatives that retain the performance required for technical and everyday apparel.