Taiwan., Jul. 17, 2025 -According to a report published by《The Icons》, Taiwan-based UKL (Universal Knitwear Ltd.) has emerged as a global voice in the sustainability movement, spotlighted as a national leader in green material innovation and circular textile transformation. The feature highlighted UKL’s pioneering work in converting agricultural waste—specifically pineapple leaves—into regenerative fiber and design applications, linking Taiwan’s rural economy to global climate action through a forward-thinking ecosystem of research, manufacturing, and policy integration.
The same report recognized UKL’s CC4CC Project and its “ShowYourStripes” climate action shirt as a powerful symbol of international climate advocacy. By transforming 173 years of Taiwan’s temperature data into a visual barcode, UKL created a wearable expression of global warming using PALF (Pineapple Leaf Fiber), its signature biodegradable material with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. The brand’s growing global visibility aligns with two major international events this fall—the Global Circular Economy Summit in October and the COP30 Climate Conference in November—positioning UKL as one of Taiwan’s most visible contributions to global sustainability dialogue.
Just one month later, in June 2025, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture held a landmark launch ceremony in Pingtung County to announce the official mass production and export of pineapple leaf fiber. In partnership with the Jiuru Farmers’ Association and UKL, the event marked the shipment of the first 100 kilograms of industrial-grade PALF extracted from over 20,000 pineapple plants. The fiber is being exported to partners in the United States, Japan, and Vietnam and is expected to yield approximately 7,500 garments. The project represents a breakthrough in how rural agricultural systems can integrate with sustainable industrial production.
Historically treated as waste, pineapple leaves were often incinerated or buried, contributing to carbon emissions and soil degradation. Through public-private cooperation, these same leaves are now converted into high-value, natural fiber that generates additional income for farmers—estimated at over USD 310 per 0.1 hectare. Taiwan’s Minister of Agriculture, Chen Jun-chi, emphasized that the project was not only an environmental milestone but a structural shift in how local agriculture can participate in global climate solutions.
Speaking at the event, UKL Executive Vice President HSIEH, HUAN-CHI remarked, “This is not brand marketing—this is a sustainability action rooted in the land. With this project, we hope to show the world what Taiwan can contribute in material innovation, system integration, and climate collaboration. When you wear our products, you're supporting rural economies, carbon reduction, and the future of responsible design.”
The initiative integrates field harvesting, fiber extraction, processing, and international distribution into a single value chain—uniting farmers, ministries, and designers under a shared mission. As PALF enters stable commercial production, UKL's trajectory underscores a new kind of climate leadership—one that begins in the soil but speaks to the world.
