SK Geo Centric produces sustainable synthetic fiber

South Korea’s SK Geo Centric Co. will collaborate with global companies in the petrochemical, textile, and apparel sectors from Japan, Finland, India, and Thailand to produce polyester based on recycled materials.

SK Geo Centric announced on Friday that it has produced polyester using renewable naphtha extracted from bio-based byproducts such as palm fatty acid distillate and waste cooking oil.

This was done in partnership with six companies, including Finland’s largest oil company Neste, Thai petrochemical company Indorama Ventures, and Japanese sports apparel company Goldwin.

Last year, SK Geo Centric formed a consortium with these companies to produce and supply sustainable polyester. This marks the first time SK Geo Centric has produced renewable p-xylene (PX), a raw material for synthetic fiber polyester, based on recycled materials.

Renewable PX is processed through the production lines of petrochemical and textile companies within the consortium to create polyester, which is then used in products by Goldwin's outdoor brand, The North Face.

Greenhouse gas emissions from producing final apparel products from renewable naphtha are reduced by 80-85% compared to using fossil fuels.

The consortium companies plan to explore further applications for sustainable polyester.

Write to Woo-Sub Kim at duter@hankyung.com