Kolon Sports Develops Biodegradable Eco-Friendly Mannequin

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Kolon Industries FnC Division (hereinafter Kolon FnC), which operates the outdoor brand Kolon Sports, announced on the 17th that it has succeeded in developing biodegradable eco-friendly mannequins following the development of biodegradable plastic hangers.

Existing mannequins use fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) as a material. FRP is easy to mold, making it a convenient material for mannequin production, but since it is made by adding various chemical materials, it causes environmental pollution and its surface peels off easily, resulting in a short replacement cycle.

Kolon Sports started market research last year and succeeded in developing biodegradable eco-friendly hangers in March, and then proceeded to develop eco-friendly mannequins.

The eco-friendly mannequins were made by mixing sawdust and eco-friendly glue, and no chemical hardeners were used, so no harmful substances are generated during the manufacturing process, protecting the health of workers as well. The eco-friendly mannequins were completed through collaboration with the domestic mannequin manufacturer GVM.

Kolon Sports first placed the eco-friendly mannequins at its Hannam flagship store. Through on-site testing at the store, they plan to identify areas for improvement and sequentially place eco-friendly mannequins in 5 to 6 stores applying the Kolon Sports eco-friendly store manual in the future.

Kim Jeong-eun, team leader of the Kolon Sports Visual Team, said, "Kolon Sports will make all stores eco-friendly starting this year," adding, "Following the successful development of eco-friendly hangers in the first half of the year, we will also mass-produce eco-friendly mannequins so that they can be placed in all Kolon Sports stores."

Meanwhile, Kolon Sports plans to apply eco-friendly materials or eco-friendly processes to half of Kolon Sports products by 2023, the 50th anniversary of the brand's launch. Currently, the eco-friendly line, Noah Project, applies 100% eco-friendly materials and techniques to all products. Additionally, stores are also being transformed into eco-friendly stores.

The aim is to minimize plastic use and convey Kolon Sports' values through eco-friendly finishes and natural materials. Not only biodegradable eco-friendly hangers but also product display fixtures such as shelves have been designed with reuse in mind for the future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.