News Release

“Clothes you can throw away” will change the future of the fashion industry

HighChem Company Limited (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo President and CEO: Ushio Taka, hereinafter referred to as HighChem) has developed a new material "HIGHLACT®" that will lead to CO2 reduction by incorporatingit. We will have a booth at EcoPro 2022 to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from December 7 to 9, where we will exhibit clothes made of HIGHLACT®, a fashion show wearing HIGHLACT® dresses, and a talk session where we and Japanese textile companies will talk about "clothing of the future".

In addition, we will exhibit denim, fleece, knitwear, satin fabrics, etc. made from HIGHLACT®, which we have recently successfully developed. This is a rare opportunity to actually hold and touch the HIGHLACT® material.

By introducing HIGHLACT®, it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2 million tons (*1) per year!

Reducing CO2 emissions is an international issue and various efforts are being made around the world. CO2 emitted by the global textile industry accounts for 8% of all industries, and is also an issue for the fashion industry.

HIGHLACT®, a material derived from corn-based PLA (polylactic acid), boasts a CO2 emission rate in its production process that is approximately 1/7th (see note 1) of that of polyester. This significant reduction in CO2 emissions can be achieved by switching to this innovative material.  Assuming that all polyester clothing in Japan were replaced with HIGHLACT®, it would be possible to reduce CO2 emissions during raw material production by approximately 2 million tons per year. This is the amount of CO2 emitted annually by 1 million people. Furthermore, since PLA absorbs CO2 during the raw material growth process, it has carbon-neutral properties that emit less CO2 in the atmosphere even if it is incinerated, so we can expect further CO2 reduction effects.

Three characteristics of PLA (polylactic acid)
Since PLA (polylactic acid) uses biomass such as corn as its raw material, it absorbs CO2 during the plant growth process, and is a carbon-neutral material that releases no CO2 into the atmosphere even if it is incinerated.

It is also biodegradable, decomposing into water and carbon dioxide under certain conditions, creating an ideal cycle in which the product returns to nature after use.

Furthermore, since it is made from lactic acid, it has natural antibacterial properties, and has attracted attention as a textile material in recent years.

HIGHLACT® developed with “the power of chemistry x traditional Japanese culture”
PLA (polylactic acid), the raw material for HIGHLACT®, has lower strength and heat resistance than existing plastics, so it has until now been considered an unsuitable raw material for fibers. We at HighChem have realized the development of HIGHLACT® by combining the chemical technology we have cultivated over the years with traditional Japanese Weaving and dyeing techniques.

● HIGHLACT® original fashion show
Schedule: Scheduled to be held 5 times a day, 10:30~, 12:00~, 13:00~, 14:00~, 15:00~

Company name: ONO MERIYASU KOGYO CORP
Head office location: Sumitomo Fudosan Kameido Building 11, 1-42-20 Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Motonobu Ono
Business: Various textile materials, textile product processing and sales
URL:https://www.onomeriyasu.jp/

Company name: Takihyo Co., Ltd.
Head office location: 23rd and 24th floors of Nagoya Lucent Tower, 6-1 Ushijima-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Representative Director: Kazuo Taki
Business: Textile products wholesale
URL:https://www.takihyo.co.jp/

Dear beautiful people
Exhibition T-shirt Playful Feels T/Teasobi Ron T

Venue: Tokyo Big Sight East Hall 6
Address: 1st floor, 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063
Access: Approximately 7 minutes' walk from Kokusai Tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line, approximately 3 minutes' walk from Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome Line

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 / Biodegradable Materials import and sales, etc.

​
If you would like to attend, please apply using the participation form.

Interview application form
*Please indicate the estimated time you can visit.
*Application deadline: December 6th (Tuesday) 18:00

*1 Annual CO2 reduction possible by adopting HIGHLACT® = approximately 2 million tons
Calculation basis:
1. CO2 emissions related to raw material procurement in Japan's textile industry: 23.41 million tons
CO2 emissions in the domestic fashion industry: 97.05 million tons
Source: March 2020, from materials from Japan Research Institute, Inc.

2. Percentage of polyester in world textile production: 57%
Source: Japan Chemical Fibers Association

3. Difference in CO2 emissions during the production of PLA and polyester


PLA (polylactic acid) =0.31kgCO2e/kg
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) = 2.15kgCO2e/kg

Calculated from 1, 2, and 3 above
2341×0.57×0.31/2.15=1.9239 million tons (*1)
CO2 emissions during raw material procurement × percentage of polyester × PLA/polyester CO2 emissions

*2 CO2 reduction during manufacturing raw materials for punch carpet
Comparison with conventional product: 100% polypropylene (PP)
When manufactured: size 1490 x thickness 0.9 = 1341
1341−(502×1.24)622.48=718.52(kg-Co2/t)
718.52÷1341= Approximately 53% reduction

*3 CO2 reduction during raw material manufacturing of graphic panel boards
Comparison with conventional product: 100% polystyrene (PS)
A: When manufactured: Size 1890 x thickness 1.2 = 2268
2268−(502×1.24)622.48=1645.52(kg-CO2/t)
1645.52÷2268= Approximately 72.5% reduction

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)