Government Launches Recycled Fiber Technology Development... 35.2 Billion Won Invested Over 5 Years

Support for Eco-Friendly Transformation of the Domestic Textile Industry

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 3rd that it will launch the 'Core Technology Development Project for F2F (Fiber To Fiber) Recycling of Polyester Composite Fibers' to help domestic companies respond to the global textile and fashion industry's shift towards eco-friendly transformation.

Global textile demand companies have set a goal to use 100% eco-friendly fibers, such as recycled fibers, starting from 2030, and the European Union (EU) and others are strengthening environmental regulations on the textile industry.

In response, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy proposed measures to support the eco-friendly transformation of the textile and fashion industry in the 'Strategy to Strengthen the Competitiveness of the Textile and Fashion Industry' announced in August last year. To implement this, the ministry plans to develop technology to recycle polyester composite materials, which account for the largest proportion (40-50%) of discarded textiles and clothing, into new fiber materials. Starting with a national budget of 4 billion KRW this year, a total of 35.2 billion KRW (29.9 billion KRW from the national budget and 5.3 billion KRW from private funds) will be invested by 2029.

Details of the project announcement can be found on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy website and the Pan-Government Integrated Research Support System. Companies and institutions wishing to participate in the project must submit their applications by the 27th. The ministry also plans to hold a project briefing session on the 12th at the Courtyard Marriott Seoul Namdaemun Hotel in Seoul.

An official from the ministry stated, "By securing world-class composite fiber recycling technology, we expect to establish a foundation to target the global textile and fashion market, which is rapidly reorganizing under the circular economy framework," adding, "We will also steadily promote the already launched 'Chemical Recycling Green Fiber Development' and 'Biomass Vegan Leather Manufacturing Technology Development Project' to support the textile industry's efforts toward eco-friendly transformation."