News Release

HighChem Company Limited (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Ushio Taka hereinafter referred to as HighChem) has developed "HIGHLACT™", a next-generation sustainable material aimed at addressing the 'mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal' challenges faced by the fashion industry. This initiative reflects the growing shift towards sustainable fashion among apparel companies. HIGHLACT™ utilizes polylactic acid (PLA) fibers derived from corn as its raw material. In developing this innovative material, HighChem collaborated with the venerable Japanese textile manufacturer, ONO MERIYASU KOGYO CORP (Headquartered in Koto-ku, Tokyo; President: Motonobu Ono, hereinafter referred to as Ono Meriyasu), to achieve superior quality of PLA fibers through integrated production management from resin to fabric. Through these efforts, HighChem is paving the way for replacing conventional plastic fibers with PLA, heralding a new era for sustainable textiles in the fashion industry.
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PLA is biodegradable plastic called polylactic acid. Normal plastics are said to take 100 to 1000 years to decompose naturally, but biodegradable plastics can be broken down by microorganisms into water and carbon dioxide (CO2) under certain conditions. PLA is attracting attention as an earth-friendly alternative material among biodegradable plastics.

Point of note 1: Organic recycling

PLA is biodegradable plastics made from corn and other materials. After use, it decomposes into water and CO2 under certain conditions and returns to nature. Furthermore, it becomes a circular cycle in which corn and other crops are produced through the photosynthesis of plants, an ideal cycle method that only biodegradable plastic can achieve.

Point of note 2 Carbon neutral

Since biomass such as corn is used as a raw material, CO2 is absorbed during the plant growth process, and even if it is incinerated, the CO2 in the atmosphere will be reduced to zero.

Point of note 3: Antibacterial properties

PLA is a biocompatible and safe material because it is made from lactic acid, which is also present in the human body. In addition, because it has antibacterial properties due to the action of lactic acid, the material itself can exert its antibacterial effect without using additives.

PLA has a simpler chemical structure than regular plastics, so it has problems such as lower strength and heat resistance, and higher costs than regular plastics. In order to solve these issues, HighChem has developed the next generation PLA material HIGHLACT using CHEMTEX flamework (CHEMICAL = the power in the chemical field that HighChem has cultivated x TEXTILE = Japan's outstanding traditional Weaving and dyeing techniques).

CHEMICAL ─ The power of chemistry

PLA has the disadvantage of being lower in strength and heat resistance than regular plastic. At HighChem, we are proceeding with research and development in the hope of solving these issues using the power of chemistry that we have cultivated over the years.

TEXTILE ─ Traditional technology in the field of Japanese materials

HighChem was working on developing PLA fibers, but was struggling with development due to various problems in the processing and dyeing processes when producing fabric. Through a business partnership with ONO MERIYASU, a long-established textile manufacturer, we have succeeded in infusing the company's outstanding traditional techniques to create a sustainable and high-quality fabric that takes full advantage of the characteristics of PLA.

About ONO MERIYASU KOGYO CORP
It is a long-established Japanese textile manufacturer that has many fans both domestically and internationally, and has a track record of selling to a wide range of customers, from top maisons to designer brands. In recent years, we have been focusing on research and development that also addresses sustainability, and are attracting attention both domestically and internationally.

ONO MERIYASU KOGYO CORP Overview
Company Name: ONO MERIYASU KOGYO CORP
Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Kameido Building 11th Floor, 1-42-20 Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director Name: Motonobu Ono
Business: Planning, manufacturing, and sales of unique textiles/knitting and sales of textile and cut and sewn fabrics
*Textile manufacturer with 97 years of history

HighChem Company Limited　Outline
Company name: HighChem Company Limited
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo 3-1, Toranomon 1-chome, Tokyo Toranomon Global Square 11F
Representative Director： Taka Ushio
Business： Export/import and sales of Chemicals, outsourced manufacturing / Technology Licensing related business / manufacture and sales of catalysts, etc.

Media inquiries regarding this release
HighChem Co., Ltd. PR Division – Eriko Kuroiwa
E-mail: kuroiwa@highchem.co.jp Phone: +81-3-5251-8580 / +81-90-6539-4213 (Kuroiwa)