NEWS RELEASE

Teijin Frontier Facilitates Recycling ofDiscarded Polyester Apparel with Novel Technology for
Removing Polyurethane Elastomer FiberTokyo, Japan, April 10, 2023 --- Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibers andproducts converting company, announced today it has developed a new foreign material
removal technology to eliminate polyurethane (PU) elastomer fiber from discarded
polyester apparel.
The technology features a new processing agent used during the pretreatment phase of
the chemical recycling process, which helps improve the quality of the recycled polyester
fiber that is derived from clothing containing PU elastomer fiber. In addition to removing
the PU elastomer fiber, the new technology eliminates foreign materials such as dyes, andhelps to omit the decolorization process of polyester fiber. Teijin Frontier has been
conducting tests of this new technology since October 2022 for practical use.

Guided by THINK ECO® environmental strategy, Teijin Frontier is striving to achieve
ambitious sustainability goals by developing advanced technologies that support recycling
and enhance the value of environmentally responsible materials. As part of its initiative
focused on polyester fiber, the company is working with the supply chain to establish acomprehensive ecosystem spanning apparel collection, sorting and recycling. Teijin
Frontier is confident that its new foreign material removal method can help expand thescope of fiber-to-fiber recycling and contribute to a zero-waste society.
The new foreign material removal technology swells the PU elastomer fiber, breaks thechemical bonds and dissolves them with the new processing agent. Simultaneously, theagent eliminates foreign substances including dyes to optimize decolorization of thepolyester fiber. For system cost control and environmental load reduction, the processing
agent can be collected and reused. Recycled polyester materials generated by thismethod can be used in the existing chemical recycling process.
Stretchable polyester clothing that contains PU elastomer fiber is becoming popular as thedemand in the industry for quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant, and comfortable-to-wear isincreasing along with the trend to casual wear. However, as conventional chemical
recycling technology for polyester assumes 100% polyester products, the quality of therecycled product deteriorates when PU elastomer fibers are included. Therefore, it isimportant to remove PU elastomer fiber from discarded polyester clothing.
About the Teijin GroupThe Teijin Group is a global, technology-driven organization that focuses on maximizing
the potential of chemistry to benefit people, society and the global environment. The
company provides advanced solutions for transportation, electronics, safety, theenvironment and healthcare. Established in 1918 as Japan's first rayon manufacturer,
Teijin today encompasses three core businesses: high-performance materials including
aramid, carbon fibers and composites; healthcare solutions including pharmaceuticals andhome health equipment; and IT systems including B2B solutions for medical, corporate
and public enterprises. The group comprises 170 companies and employs 20,000 people
across 20 countries. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 926.1 billion ($7.2 billionUSD) and total assets of JPY 1,207.6 billion ($9.4 billion USD) in the fiscal year that ended
March 31, 2022.
Press Contact
Investor and Public Relations Department
Teijin Limited
pr@teijin.co.jp