[Courtesy of Hyundai Transys]
Hyundai Transys said in a statement on November 18 that the company signed a memorandum of understanding with E&R to reduce carbon emissions by recycling discarded and leftover leather generated during car seat production. Conventional recycled leather, which was produced by attaching crushed leather to nonwoven fabrics, was less durable than natural leather. The two companies would develop eco-friendly leather and reuse it for car seats.
Demands for eco-friendly products are growing in automobile and other industries. Hazzys, a casual brand of South Korea's fashion retailer LF, released sneakers using vegan leather made of apple skin in October 2021. Vegan leather is favored by animal lovers and environmentally aware consumers who wish to reduce pollution generated at leather processing plants. Recycled polyester rubber was also used in the production of the insole and outsole.
While recycling only focuses on collecting discarded materials and turning them into new product materials, upcycling is the act of creating new values using discarded products. In October 2021, Hyundai Motor released 12 types of fashion items using waste materials including discarded car airbags.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
