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Turning Surplus Battery Separator Film into Clothing? …Shin Min‑jung, CEO of ‘Right Route’

Even the electric vehicle industry—often seen as the heart of eco-friendliness—has its share of waste problems. One major issue is the massive amount of lithium-ion battery separators that are discarded.

These separators, a key component of EV batteries, are extremely sensitive—minor scratches can ruin their commercial value. Due to overproduction in the industry, large inventories accumulate, and every month, an estimated 100,000 square meters—about 130 times the size of a soccer field—are thrown away. Since recycling them is difficult, they end up as waste, contributing to environmental issues.

Light Route, a social enterprise, is tackling this problem by transforming discarded EV battery separators into high-performance fabric. By combining the separators with other materials, they create entirely new textiles. CEO Shin Min-jung says,

"Our goal is to realize sustainability by making clothing that's as durable and long-lasting as possible."

(The rest of the article is omitted.)