Huvis, a Korean company specializing in chemical fiber materials, said Wednesday it had won the Innovation & Sustainability award at the ITMF Awards 2026, a prestigious international recognition in the textile industry.
The award was presented during the International Textile Manufacturers Federation's annual conference, held Oct. 14-15 in Fortaleza, Brazil. Huvis representatives, including Lee Min-sung, head of its research center, attended the ceremony.
Founded in 1904, the ITMF is an international organization for the textile industry that promotes innovation and sustainable development. Its awards recognize companies and institutions for achievements in technological innovation, sustainability and industrial impact.
Huvis was recognized for its technology in commercializing Ecoever LM, the world's first low-melting-point (LMF) adhesive fiber for automotive interiors made using chemically recycled raw materials derived from waste plastics. Huvis is the global market leader in LMF.
By combining conventional fiber manufacturing technology with chemical recycling, the company developed a higher-value product. Ecoever LM addresses a key limitation of mechanical recycling, which can cause quality deterioration after repeated recycling.
The material can be used in various automotive interior components, including dashboards, headliners, seats and door trims. Compared with conventional LMF made from petrochemical feedstocks, it can reduce carbon emissions by about 56 percent. It can also incorporate recycled materials derived from lower-grade waste plastics containing impurities, potentially expanding plastic recycling and easing the supply constraints on recycled feedstocks.
Global automakers are accelerating the use of recycled materials and efforts to reduce carbon emissions amid tightening environmental regulations, including the European Union's proposed End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) rules. Huvis plans to use Ecoever LM to respond proactively to these market changes and strengthen its competitiveness in the global market for environmentally friendly automotive materials.
"It is meaningful to introduce Huvis' chemical recycling technology to global textile industry leaders and receive their recognition," Lee said at the ceremony. "We will continue to develop innovative materials through sustained research and development, contributing to resource circulation and carbon emissions reduction."
Kim Seok-hyun, CEO of Huvis, said the award reflected the company's technological innovation and efforts.
"Interest in and inquiries about chemical recycling are growing not only in the automotive industry but also in industrial and interior materials," Kim said. "We will accelerate efforts to strengthen our portfolio of eco-friendly and differentiated products."
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