South Korean conglomerate Hyosung Group, led by Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, is accelerating its shift toward sustainability, aiming to become a global total eco-friendly manufacturer through recycled textiles, carbon-reducing plastics, and low-emission power equipment.
“Eco-friendly management is no longer a matter of choice — it’s essential for survival,” Cho said on November 10. “Hyosung aims to grow into a total eco-friendly manufacturing group that coexists with the environment while actively participating in ecosystem preservation.”
Hyosung has been a pioneer in sustainable materials, particularly through its textile arm, Hyosung TNC. The global recycled fiber market — currently around $17 billion — is projected to reach $56 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 12.5%. In 2007, Hyosung TNC developed “regen,” a recycled nylon fiber made from discarded fishing nets, followed by Korea’s first PET bottle-based polyester yarn. This year, it launched the Textile-to-Textile (T2T) project, which recycles old clothing into new polyester fiber, representing a major step forward in circular fashion innovation.
Hyosung Chemical contributes to carbon reduction with Polyketone, a sustainable engineering plastic commercialized in 2013. Its global warming potential is roughly half that of conventional engineering plastics, while maintaining durability and chemical stability for applications such as power meters, automotive components, and conveyor belts.
Hyosung Heavy Industries, a global leader in high-voltage circuit breakers, is expanding its low-carbon power solutions. The company unveiled a roadmap for SF₆-Free GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) using C4-FN mixed gas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliability. Already commercialized in 170kV systems in Korea, the technology will extend to 145kV units by 2026 and 800kV ultra-high-voltage systems by 2030.
Under Cho’s leadership, Hyosung is positioning itself as a trusted global partner for industries transitioning toward sustainability, aligning its operations with worldwide ESG and carbon neutrality trends. Headquartered in Seoul, the group continues to integrate textiles, chemicals, industrial machinery, and construction under a single eco-friendly growth strategy.
