This collaboration is an upcycling project that reprocesses waste fibers generated during the apparel production process and utilizes them as filter materials for semiconductor cleanrooms.
Semiconductor cleanrooms are ultra-clean environments that require strict control of fine dust and contaminant particles, making air filters one of their key components. The two companies initiated this collaboration after recognizing the growing demand for high-performance, durable filters in the semiconductor industry and the increasing need for eco-friendly materials.
Hojeon will supply waste fibers generated during the apparel production process, while NewRise plans to utilize its proprietary recycled material technology to develop these into high-performance filter materials for cleanrooms. Through this initiative, the companies aim to establish a resource circulation system by converting waste clothing and fabric—which were previously discarded or used for low-value applications—into industrial materials.
NewRise recently began its first shipment of high-performance filters for use in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems of a global semiconductor company. The two companies plan to complete the development of waste fiber upcycling technology and move toward the actual supply of products.
They also plan to expand the range of applications. Beyond semiconductors, the company intends to broaden the use of these materials to sectors requiring ultra-clean environments and air management, such as artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, the display industry, and the biotechnology sector.
An official from Hojeon stated, “Through our development partnership with NewRise, we have gained an opportunity to transform our materials into high-value-added, cutting-edge materials.”
A NewRise official added, “Through technological innovation that transforms industrial waste into advanced materials, we will simultaneously ensure environmental sustainability and industrial competitiveness, thereby creating a new growth model for the domestic eco-friendly materials industry.”