Hyundai Department Store Unveils 'Upcycled Fashion Bags' Made from Recycled Banners

Hyundai Department Store, 'Green Friends Fashion Bag'.

TheHyundai.com Launches 5 Types of 'Fashion Bags' Using Over 30 Banners from Department Store Exterior Walls
"Plans to Recycle About 100 Banners Used Across 16 Stores Next Year to Introduce Eco-Friendly Products"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] Hyundai Department Store is the first in the department store industry to upcycle discarded banners that were hung on store exterior walls into bags. Upcycling refers to the process of transforming products that have lost their use into new products by adding value through eco-friendly technology, design, or ideas, beyond simple recycling.

Hyundai Department Store announced on the 11th that, in collaboration with an upcycling specialized startup, it will launch eco-friendly goods called 'Green Friends Fashion Bags' made by upcycling banners that were hung on the exterior walls of 11 department stores in the Gyeongin region, including the Apgujeong Main Store, starting from the 12th on its official online mall, TheHyundai.com.

The Green Friends Fashion Bags are characterized by using over 30 large banners (approximately 1 ton in total) measuring 10 meters in width and height that were displayed on department store exterior walls for promotional purposes. After collecting banners that had been used during themed periods such as regular sales or Family Month, they underwent high-temperature washing, drying, and coating processes to make them recyclable and were used as the outer fabric. Previously, banners past their display period were incinerated.

A company representative explained, "The banners used in the products are highly durable and water-resistant as they are installed on exterior walls exposed to strong winds, rain, and snow for extended periods."

Hyundai Department Store incorporated eco-friendly elements not only in the outer fabric of the bags but also throughout the products. The lining is made from fabric recycled from discarded PET bottles, and the tags displaying product information and prices are made from recycled paper printed with soy ink.

A Hyundai Department Store official stated, "By producing bags instead of incinerating the banners, we were able to reduce approximately 2.3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Next year, we plan to recycle all 100 banners, about 3 tons in total, used and discarded annually across 16 stores nationwide, including the Apgujeong Main Store, to introduce eco-friendly products."

The Green Friends Fashion Bags being launched include five types: card case, pouch, messenger bag, shopper bag, and tote bag, with 500 units of each type, totaling 2,500 units. Prices range from 19,000 to 49,000 KRW. The bags were produced in collaboration with the upcycling specialized startup 'Upcyclist.'

Hyundai Department Store explained that the production of these Green Friends Fashion Bags is part of its eco-friendly management efforts. The company has set the environmental management goal of being a "leading eco-friendly company in customers' daily lives" and is promoting eco-friendly management by focusing on three key areas: Green Service, Green Friends, and Green System.

A Hyundai Department Store representative said, "Through the Green Friends Fashion Bags, we hope to raise customer interest in eco-friendly activities and increase awareness of domestic upcycling brands. We will continue to strive to minimize waste resources and spread a sustainable consumption culture."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Department Store opened the 'Green Friends Hall,' an eco-friendly and ethical product curated shop, on TheHyundai.com in September last year to promote domestic upcycling brands, showcasing over 3,000 products from more than 80 brands.

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