[Person人] Chairman Kang Tae-sun, the Only 'Top 20 Global Social Environment Leaders' in Korea Stands Tall

Focus on Recycled Materials Even at the Expense of Margins
Sustainable Management Including Now Acquisition
'Clean Mountain365' Campaign
Expanding Eco-Friendly Product Production Through Own Brands

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Kang Tae-seon, chairman of BYN Black Yak, has been named in the "Global Sustainable Leaders and Companies 100" announced by the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Association, a special consultative body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Among global sustainable corporate leaders, Chairman Kang was the only one from Korea selected as one of the "Top 20 Most Sustainable Social and Environmental Leaders Worldwide." The list also includes Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Jos? Andr?s, founder of World Central Kitchen.

"Companies should not pursue profit alone"

Since 2011, Chairman Kang has emphasized "sustainable management" with a focus on climate change. As the head of an outdoor company that values coexistence with nature and as a mountaineer, he has intensely contemplated creating social value. His acquisition of the American outdoor brand "Now" in 2014 was based on this background. Now is a U.S. eco-friendly brand founded by product developers from Columbia, Patagonia, and Nike. At the time of acquisition, there were concerns in Korea that using 100% recycled materials was premature. However, Chairman Kang focused on increasing the use of recycled materials even at the expense of profit margins.

Moreover, Chairman Kang is working hard to solve the mountain litter problem through the "Clean Mountain 365" campaign with 260,000 members of the Black Yak Alpine Club. He said, "The fundamental purpose of a company is to pursue profit, but this alone can no longer guarantee the sustainability of business and the environment. The wave of prosperity we enjoy today was created by capital-owning companies, but they must become innovators through unprecedented new ways of acting."

Making Clothes That Add Value to the Earth

Black Yak's "BYN Resource Circulation Project" is an eco-friendly model that practices sustainability across product development, marketing, campaigns, and management activities. It promotes an outdoor lifestyle based on the value nature provides and connects the nation, local communities, companies, and consumers to encourage behavioral change and participation for sustainable environmental preservation. Chairman Kang explained, "The project, carried out throughout management activities, has led to the establishment of a resource circulation model for PET bottles discarded domestically, from collection to regenerated fiber extraction, and final product manufacturing and sales."

In July last year, Black Yak succeeded for the first time in Korea in commercializing fashion products made from recycled transparent PET bottles. The company is expanding the production of eco-friendly products under its brand called "PLUSTIC." PLUSTIC is a portmanteau of "plus" and "plastic," meaning that recycled plastic adds value to the earth. The PLUSTIC collection recycles a minimum of 15 to more than 30 PET bottles per 500ml, depending on the product type such as T-shirts, jackets, and pants.

Along with developing eco-friendly materials, Black Yak has partnered with eight districts in Seoul and other local governments to collect transparent PET bottles. Recently, it also signed business agreements with major corporations such as SK Hynix and POSCO. Chairman Kang stated, "The series of activities that began as corporate social return and compensation have now transformed all systems for corporate activities," adding, "We will present a sustainable platform where corporate social value leads to economic value."

Fight Differently, and You Will Surely Win

In Chairman Kang’s office hangs a framed phrase he wrote himself in the early days of the company: "Fight differently, and you will surely win." Born in Jeju Island in 1949, Kang came to Seoul penniless and established a 3-pyeong (approx. 9.9 square meters) store called "Dongjinsa" in an alley in Jongno 5-ga, Seoul, in 1973. In 1994, the company was incorporated as Dongjin Leisure Co., Ltd., and in 1995, the outdoor brand "Black Yak" was launched. Unlike competing outdoor companies, he continuously knocked on doors to enter overseas markets. As a result, Black Yak has grown into a global brand present in over 20 countries across three continents. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the outdoor market downturn, Chairman Kang is fully committed to building a "sustainable company."

Chairman Kang emphasized, "This is just the beginning," adding, "We will not hesitate to invest in recycling not only PET bottles but also fishing nets discarded in the ocean and other foreign substances," and "Furthermore, we will lead by example so that all industries can participate in accelerating eco-friendly and low-carbon processes throughout production, processing, and disposal."

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