PlaX adopted by Japan’s first reflector brand “Ref Lite”
Bioworks, Corporation has announced that its plant-based next-generation synthetic fiber “PlaX,” made from polylactic acid, has been adopted by “Ref Lite,” Japan’s first*1 reflector (retroreflective fabric) brand developed by Mipox Corporation. This is the first time the company has introduced a plant-based biodegradable biomass material into its reflector products.
In recent years, with growing environmental awareness, there has been increasing demand in the fashion industry for reflector products with a low environmental impact. However, until now, there have been almost no reflector products, other than those made from recycled materials, that could reduce environmental burden. The “PlaX” adopted this time is a next-generation synthetic fiber that contributes to reducing environmental impact by, for example, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 50% during the production of 1 kg of staple fiber compared to petroleum-based synthetic polyester fibers, and not generating harmful substances when incinerated.
*1 First manufacturing and sale of open-lens type retroreflective fabric in Japan (based on Mipox’s internal research at the time of launch in 1968)