BlackYak has helped recycle 17 million PET bottles this year
Local media recently reported that Seoul-based outdoor brand BlackYak has already used 17 million domestically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (known as K-rPET) bottles for garments, footwear and accessories this year alone.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the proportion of waste plastic bottles used in the brand’s clothing has increased by around 29% year on year. It christened the product line to which these products typically belong Plustic back in April.
BlackYak signed a multilateral agreement with South Korean fibre producer TK Chemical and drinks company Sansu Beverage earlier in July, intended to increase the amount of K-rPET (also marketed by TK Chemical as Ecolon) the producer can manufacture by broadening its input of used plastic bottles through collaboration with Sansu.
The brand also reportedly plans to partner with Gore-Tex on a tentatively titled “K-Gore” collection derived from recycled PET. The intention is to mix raw K-rPET with Gore-Tex membrane material (highly regarded as waterproof, windproof and breathable) to create a windbreaker jacket, which media in the country said will be made available later in the year.
A spokesperson for BlackYak commented that the brand will only continue to expand its use of K-rPET fibre across its product range.
