SK innovation boosts zero waste initiative with RightRoute

[Courtesy of SK Innovation]

SK innovation Co. is accelerating its zero-waste initiatives through a partnership with RightRoute, a South Korean company transforming secondary battery separator waste into textiles.

RightRoute’s Texnic is a high-function textile, akin to Gore-Tex, renowned for its waterproofing and breathability. What makes Texnic stand out is that it is made from waste battery separators.

“The microporous structure of the battery separator, which prevents contact between anode and cathode while facilitating electrolyte transfer, provides excellent moisture wicking and insulation properties similar to Gore-Tex,” the company said.

In 2020, RightRoute pioneered the technology to recycle waste separators into functional fabrics. This breakthrough was made possible after the startup was selected as a beneficiary of SK innovation‘s social venture discovery and support program.

RightRoute has evolved into an eco-friendly partner of SK innovation, producing Texnic using waste separation membranes from SK ie technology Co. (SKIET), a SK innovation subsidiary engaged in lithium-ion battery separator material business.

This collaboration not only furthers SK innovation’s zero-waste-to-landfill (ZWTL) efforts but also yields significant carbon reduction effects. Texnic reduces carbon emissions by about 30 grams per square meter, according to the company.

Since Texnic‘s launch last year, RightRoute has inked proof of concept (PoC) agreements with companies such as Samsung C&T Corp. and functional fashion brands like Zerogram and Muwm.

Texnic fabrics are already being used for products like bags and hats by Samsung C&T’s Beanpole Golf, with contracts secured with overseas luxury brands for future material supply.

RightRoute is also venturing into producing automotive seat materials using yarns recycled from ceramic coated separators (CCSs), recognized for their enhanced durability compared to general separators.

Recently selected as a developer of premium sedan seat materials for a domestic automaker, RightRoute is poised for commercialization of this new material at its second facility, facilitated by waste CCSs provided by SKIET. With SK innovation’s support, Texnic passed both environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) and third-party verification earlier this month.

According to battery industry tracker SNE Research, global waste separators are estimated to reach about 64,000 tons by 2030, resulting in approximately 33,930 tons of carbon emissions.

This translates to discarding 28,000 plastic cups daily for a year. Recycling these separators could potentially yield 5.12 billion t-shirts, offering a substantial environmental benefit.