For many businesses, the path to sustainability is fraught with challenges. It can be like walking on a thorny path or crossing a river by feeling for stones in the dark, progressing step by step. These challenges include the initial investment needed to switch to renewable energy or implement environmentally friendly technologies, finding new suppliers to reduce reliance on non-sustainable resources, spending additional time and resources to comply with new regulations, and encountering internal resistance when changing the company’s culture and values. It is already difficult to maintain steady progress on the challenging path of sustainability. It is even more challenging to lead other companies in showcasing beauty and fashion on this sustainable journey.
UKL, founded in 1988, is a classic example. Under the leadership of the company’s founder, Judy Tsai, who upholds the strengths of Taiwanese enterprises—integrity, professionalism, and innovation—the company has grown steadily. UKL has always been a designated supplier for international brands in Europe and America, providing high-quality sweaters and knitwear to customers worldwide. After HSIEH, HUAN-CHI took over as Executive Vice President, his innovative energy has made UKL a focal point in the field of sustainable fashion development in recent years.
“I have always believed that as long as you believe in what you are doing, the path ahead in this sustainable journey will naturally extend forward. The scenery along the way is determined by me!” HSIEH, HUAN-CHI leads the team and has consecutively won the SME award in the 2022 DBS Foundation Grant Program and two awards in the 2023 Taiwan Golden Pin Design Award. Recently, UKL’s brand, PALF, was selected as a highlight in the “THE GREEN BOOK Taiwan Sustainable Actions and Solutions Guide” by Good Loop Exchange and Business Weekly. UKL also won two design awards at the 2024 iF Design Awards in Germany, becoming an international leader in green fashion.
“In the near future, what we aim to achieve is to redefine the new value of recycled bio-materials through our technology and design. This is my vision and mission. Friends from various fields, including international media, have asked me about the secret to leading sustainable fashion. The answer is simple,” HSIEH, HUAN-CHI firmly stated in an interview with 《The Icons》.
“The path of sustainable fashion is full of challenges, but we can still move forward confidently and invite more like-minded partners to walk alongside us. Believing in doing what is beneficial for the environment and humanity will attract more partners to join the path of sustainability. ‘Believe, and you will see!'”
HSIEH, HUAN-CHI: Sustainability Should Be Boldly Practiced and Worn!
After graduating from the Institute of Electrical Engineering, HSIEH, HUAN-CHI returned to the family business, UKL, to take over. Initially, leveraging his academic expertise, he was primarily responsible for the systematic integration within the company. As he became more familiar with the company’s operations, HSIEH began to ponder how to manage the company better and understand the details of business expansion.
HSIEH pointed out that since the lifting of export quota restrictions on China’s textile industry in 3, the global textile industry has been forced to rethink how to transform due to the reorganization of resources and changes in labor costs. It was during this challenging time that he started overseeing the company’s business development department.
“I realized that the company must transition from the traditional OEM model to ODM, allowing our clients to showcase greater design capabilities and even brand strength in the market. At this time, I also began to require our sales team to take proactive measures, not only to learn to observe market demand changes but also not to neglect product development.”
This transformation naturally brought a series of challenges to the company’s transition. However, it gradually cultivated new competitiveness for the company, including ample preparation for leading sustainable fashion in the future:
“My team continuously innovates, focusing on creating value for our customers and effectively solving their problems. As sustainability awareness began to sprout simultaneously across various countries, I often asked myself how we could redefine product value and even amplify and create more possibilities?” HSIEH said. When he suddenly realized one day that with a single decision, materials like pineapple leaf fiber, oyster yarn, discarded fishing nets, and recycled PET bottle yarn could be made into fashionable and comfortable clothing, he saw UKL’s new market positioning emerge.
“Continuously launching one sustainable fashion product after another, all fully circular textile products, is what I aim to do. Sustainability should not remain in the heart or be mere talk on paper; it should be boldly practiced and worn! Moreover, I want everyone to wear it fashionably, leading the times not only in sustainability issues but also in aesthetics.”
Utilizing Local Materials for Circular Reuse: Paving the Way to Sustainable Fashion
With a keen sensitivity to the global market—especially as international clients accelerate their net-zero transitions, HSIEH, HUAN-CHI began to feel a growing conviction within: a bold vision waiting to be raised like a banner.
“In the early days of sustainable fashion, most recycled products were derived from plastics. But as more global companies joined this movement, the scope rapidly expanded. Coca-Cola, for instance, announced that by 2030, all of its products will be made from recycled bottles. That’s when I decided we had to go further, not just reuse existing materials, but build circularity from our own land.”
That ambition led UKL to launch its first in-house brand, EVOPURE+, a leader in sustainable fashion. In 2022, the brand debuted in collaboration with Taiwan’s professional baseball league, introducing a red-and-white performance jacket that quickly became a fan favourite. By Earth Day 2023, they released Taiwan’s first fully circular T-shirt, a breathable, sweat-wicking oversized tee made entirely from circular fabric, complete with cutting-edge eco-design.
“Behind the scenes, our team meticulously sourced yarn from recycled PET bottles and discarded garments. Even the printing used biodegradable pigments, the wash label was made from recycled bottles, hang tags came from repurposed pulp, and packaging was fully compostable. Every detail reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting this planet.”
Following the success of EVOPURE+, Hsieh identified an overlooked local resource: pineapple leaves. As Taiwan’s top fruit in both production and value, pineapples generate nearly 800,000 metric tons of discarded leaves annually. Remarkably, Taiwan’s pineapple leaf fibres are more than twice as fine as those in Southeast Asia—an untapped edge in circular innovation.
Thus, PALF (Pineapple Leaves Fiber) was born—a plant-based eco-fibre brand using proprietary fibre extraction and yarn production technologies. PALF fibres are biodegradable, breathable, soft to the touch, moisture-wicking, wrinkle-resistant, and exceptionally durable. They can even be blended with natural or synthetic fibres to form sustainable plant-based leather with a premium hand feel.
“When you wear PALF, you’re not just embracing style—you’re taking part in transforming agricultural waste into sustainable value.”
In February 2024, PALF was verified under ISO 14067, showing a carbon footprint of 0.784 kg CO₂e per kilogram—about one-tenth that of flax and one-fourth that of cotton. With advantages such as short growth cycles, easy cultivation, local sourcing, and low water consumption—97% less than cotton—PALF proves that sustainability and style can indeed go hand in hand.
Beyond garments, UKL has extended PALF into accessories and home décor, positioning Taiwan’s innovation at the heart of the global sustainable fashion ecosystem.
Hsieh Huan-Chi, Executive Vice President of UKL, recalls that his commitment to sustainability began with a series of insights into consumer trends and planetary needs. Realizing UKL’s deep industrial capacity and agile market foresight, he saw a unique opportunity:
“Applying for B Corp certification helped me understand the essence of business impact. I truly believe companies can drive profit while contributing to people, planet, and purpose. The key lies in this one question: Are you willing to be the starting point for change?”
From National Pineapple Leaf Fiber Team to Global Pineapple Leaf Fiber Team
As mentioned earlier, Taiwan produces approximately 800,000 tons of pineapple leaf waste annually. In the past, over 60% of it was incinerated, causing air pollution and incurring additional cleaning costs. If buried, it takes 3 to 6 months before the land can be used again. Additionally, global textile waste amounts to 92 million tons per year. Although many businesses have started to invest in waste recycling, the results have been less than satisfactory. HSIEH, HUAN-CHI identifies the problem:
“These manufacturers lack a systematic business plan from production to sales and even within the supply chain. Currently, sustainable operations are still quite new in Taiwan, so cross-sector collaboration is essential. Going back to my concept of ‘The Source Starts with Me,’ UKL’s mission is to integrate existing resources both domestically and internationally, including establishing a business system, collaborating with public sectors and supply chains, and building a global ecosystem.”
In addition to researching and developing pineapple leaf fiber technologies, HSIEH, HUAN-CHI’s team collaborates with academia, such as the Industrial Technology Research Institute and Keio University in Japan, to transform research results into practical applications and establish international cooperation networks. In Taiwan, they work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Administration to jointly establish relevant systems. They have designed a modular development plan that includes industry, government, academia, and research and established the “Taiwan Pineapple Leaf Fiber Production and Marketing Alliance” to integrate all existing resources in Taiwan.
Furthermore, HSIEH, HUAN-CHI has integrated supply chain resources in Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and Cambodia and worked with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council to seek more like-minded international partners. Through media promotion and exhibitions, UKL showcases its achievements and establishes close partnerships with farms from Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Africa, Japan, and other countries around the world.
“In my previous role as head of business development, I put great effort into understanding market trends and customer needs, enabling us to create products that meet market expectations. Through numerous presentations, I convinced both government and private entities to become our partners, establishing the current National Pineapple Leaf Fiber Team. Moving forward, I aim to establish the Global Pineapple Leaf Fiber Team!”
Entering the Global Arena of Sustainability Discourse
UKL has laid out a systematic roadmap and strategy for advancing green material transformation, beginning with the innovative development of PALF, a regenerated fibre derived from agricultural waste in Taiwan. By transforming discarded pineapple leaves into a high-potential, internationally viable material, UKL demonstrates how localized agricultural by-products can be leveraged to build a globally relevant circular economy model. The initiative integrates supply chain resources across Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, combining raw material innovation, systemic design, and cross-border collaboration.
One of the most emblematic projects is the “ShowYourStripes” climate action shirt, which translates Taiwan’s temperature data from 1850 to the present into a striking gradient of blue-to-red stripes. Crafted using PALF, a fibre with an exceptionally low carbon footprint, the shirt turns climate science into wearable visual language, while redefining the value of sustainable fashion through thoughtful design. It’s more than clothing, it’s climate advocacy, worn and seen.
As global awareness of climate issues continues to rise, UKL is steadily establishing its presence on the international stage. Executive Vice President Hsieh, Huan-Chi affirms:
“We’re not just telling a brand story, we’re taking real action. We’re doing something that can truly contribute to the world, starting from the land, from materials, and turning climate advocacy into something people can wear and understand.”
(Photo: UKL)
PALF Mass Production Begins: Partnering with Government to Bring Circularity from Soil to the World
In June 2025, UKL, in collaboration with Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Jiuru Township Farmers’ Association, held the “Pineapple Plant Circular Agriculture Milestone” launch ceremony in Pingtung. This event marked the official start of mass production and export of pineapple leaf fibres, transforming what was once an agricultural by-product into a sustainable material with global value. It also signified a major milestone in UKL’s circular economy journey.
“This is not a brand marketing campaign, it’s a genuine sustainability movement rooted in the land,” said UKL Executive Vice President Hsieh, Huan-Chi. “When you wear these garments, you’re also supporting rural economies, carbon reduction, and material innovation.”
A total of 100 kilograms of fibres were produced in this initial phase, enough to manufacture approximately 7,500 garments. The first shipments are destined for markets in the United States, Japan, and Vietnam. This transformation was made possible through long-term collaboration between UKL, local farmers’ associations, and government agencies. Hsieh noted that pineapple leaves were previously discarded through incineration or burial—practices that created environmental burdens and wasted potential value. “Now, these once-overlooked materials have become valuable regenerative fibres. Each hectare of farmland can generate over NT$10,000 in additional income for farmers. That’s what true circular economy looks like.”
During the event, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi remarked, “This is more than just the start of a circular economy, it’s a breakthrough for upgrading Taiwan’s local agriculture.” He emphasized the Ministry’s continued investment in automated harvesting and fibre extraction technology to help build a more robust material transformation and supply chain system.
“From farmland and fibre extraction to design and global markets, we are not working in isolation,” Hsieh added. “We’re building an entire ecosystem. This is not a one-time project, it’s a sustainable pathway forward. We hope pineapple leaves from Taiwan will soon take centre stage on the global stage.”
Whenever You See Pineapple Leaves, Think of UKL!
Despite constant media coverage both domestically and internationally, and reaching milestone after milestone, HSIEH, HUAN-CHI, with his powerful vision, remains unsatisfied. Although widely recognized as a leader in sustainable fashion, he holds himself to even higher standards while leading the entire group. In addition to planning to achieve at least 10% of the company’s total electricity consumption from green energy and increase the share of renewable energy to 25% by 2025, their technical team is also diligently planning carbon-neutral pineapple leaf fiber products. On the business side, they have set a goal of reaching $8 million in revenue from their green products by 2024. Since 2021, they have recycled over 60 tons of pineapple leaf waste and have collaborated with other towns and cities in Taiwan to further expand their economic scale. Additionally, HSIEH, HUAN-CHI plans to aggressively promote their brand PALF in the global market, with the first step being the establishment of a company in California, USA, to enter the American market.
HSIEH, HUAN-CHI stated that although UKL originated in Taiwan, a geographically small island with limited natural resources compared to other countries, it possesses abundant innovative development capabilities and resilience that refuses to compromise with the status quo. By leveraging cross-disciplinary collaboration to apply and design recycled circular materials in various ways, creating more added value for products, and viewing product design from a market perspective, more of Taiwan’s sustainable materials and concepts can be promoted to the global market.
As a B Corporation, UKL deeply embeds sustainability DNA in all aspects, including employee care, environmental protection, and friendly procurement, implementing ESG. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UKL leads several initiatives. These include using sustainable materials to produce sustainable products through sustainable production processes, fulfilling Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; responding to Goal 13: Climate Action through carbon reduction strategies in both operational and production environments; and co-creating Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals with partners from various ecosystems such as the Taiwan Pineapple Leaf Fiber Production and Marketing Alliance, the Ai Respite Caregivers Alliance, multiple B Corporation partners, Taiwan De Fu Alliance, DBS Impact Circle, and the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Foundation Asia-Pacific Center. In HSIEH, HUAN-CHI’s view, this is just the beginning.
“Bio Base is a magical thing. Even with the same pineapple, the leaf fibers from different regions are completely different. If this is true for pineapples, how much more so for us as people? Don’t limit your own horizons. Believe in yourself, and you’ll see the road ahead. As you strive, the whole world will come together to help you succeed! Just remember one thing,” HSIEH, HUAN-CHI said:
“We are each the source of change!”
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