Huvis Develops ‘Biodegradable Banners’ That Decompose Within 3 Years of Burial

Joint Development with Korea Media, No.1 Banner Company
Excellent 160-Degree High-Temperature Processing and Dyeing Power

Huvis announced on the 22nd that it will jointly develop eco-friendly biodegradable banners with Daehan Media, the largest banner company in Korea, using its self-developed biodegradable polyester fibers. Photo by Huvis

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Huvis announced on the 22nd that it will jointly develop eco-friendly biodegradable banners with Korea's largest banner company, Daehan Media, using its self-developed biodegradable polyester fiber.

Currently, the annual amount of banner waste in Korea reaches 9,000 tons. According to the Ministry of Environment, approximately 200,000 discarded banners were generated from the 2018 local elections to the 2021 by-elections. Of these, only 30% are recycled, while the rest are incinerated or landfilled. Landfilled banners do not decompose, posing a risk of environmental pollution, and incineration causes air pollution, raising concerns.

Some domestic companies have attempted to produce banners using biomass materials made from starch extracted from corn or sugarcane. However, despite the excellent biodegradability of biomass materials, their durability and heat resistance are insufficient, making them vulnerable to dyeing and high temperatures during banner processing, which has hindered commercialization.

The biodegradable banners jointly developed by Huvis and Daehan Media apply Ecoen, a high-heat-resistant biodegradable polyester fiber. Ecoen combines biodegradable biomass materials with durable polyester, offering the same physical properties as polyester fibers while protecting the environment. It can withstand heat above 160 degrees Celsius during the banner coating process and has excellent dyeability. When buried in the ground, it biodegrades within three years.

A Huvis official stated, “As eco-friendliness has recently become a hot topic, orders for biodegradable fiber Ecoen are increasing in places requiring living and industrial textiles across industries. We will continue to advance our SHE (Safety, Health, Environment) product portfolio, which embodies the philosophy of maintaining a safe and healthy life and passing on a clean environment to future generations, and lead ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) management.”