Andy Chung, Director of Andex International Enterprise Limited and Asia Nonwoven Fabrics Association that specialises in nonwoven hygienic products, recalls how he had spent many of his childhood years tagging along his father who operated a garment factory back in the 80s. “I guess that’s how I’ve developed a strong connection with the manufacturing industry,” he notes.

Growing up, Chung witnessed how his father single-handedly maintained his own factory business, and was fascinated by the production processes whereby raw materials are transformed into finished products. “It’s no surprise, therefore, that I made up my mind early to launch my career in industry,” he says. “You could say I’ve learnt the trade from the ground up, noting every little detail that is essential to running a successful business.”

 “You don’t necessarily have to be adept at everything in the factory, but you need to be aware of how things work,” he observes. “Otherwise, you’d be better off just being a passive investor.”

Chung soon realized that manufacturing other companies’ products wasn’t a sustainable mode of operation, and banking on his 20-plus years of experience in industry, he decided to make a bold move into the world of nonwoven fabrics, and created his own brand, Zero Travity. Nonwoven fabrics, he explains, have a lot of versatility which allow his factory to increase its value-added production. 

Creating Zero Travity, an eco-friendly brand that makes no compromise

The origins of Chung’s creation can be traced back to one of his business trips. “After using a hotel’s towels, I developed this horrible red skin rash. It was this unpleasant experience that prompted me to create personal, disposable towels that are hygienic, convenient and have a high level of practicality for people to take with them”.

Chung points out that the previous definition of being environmentally friendly was having the ability to reuse the product, but now consumers consider eco-friendliness in terms of biodegradability as a non-negotiable attribute. From attending a myriad of seminars and events, he gained the inspiration of replacing plastic ingredients with other more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, such as plant fibers. That way, the products can go back to zero after use, which echoes the brand’s name, Zero Travity.

From towels to pillowcases, bed covers, and more, Chung hopes Zero Travity’s novel products can ameliorate people’s way of life. As experts in nonwoven materials, they understand many people have the prenotion that single-use products are costly and eco-unfriendly. In the past, nonwoven fabrics consisted of plastics interwoven with the fabric, but Zero Travity ensures its towels are made of 100% biodegradable plant fibers that entirely decompose in the soil of landfills within 6 months to a year. Users are suggested to carry one to two towel packs on their trips, as the towels can be hand washed and reused for around 7 to 10 days before discarding. The amount of germs and viruses that can be found on traditional cloth towels versus disposable towels shows the stark discrepancy between the two in terms of impurities which are near impossible to get rid of in traditional towels.

Gyms, salons, spas, and massage parlors carry this line of towels to help them save time, capital and water from washing machines but most importantly it’s hygienic; an important factor during the post-pandemic period. This prestigious customer service of receiving a new pack of towels is a comforting experience for each consumer. Surveys have shown that washing normal hotel towels can be more environmentally unfriendly than purely creating a new towel due to all the chemicals, antimicrobial, disinfectants, and soaps involved in the washing, steaming and ironing processes. 

“Commercial towels can never get rid of internal bacteria or dirt no matter how many times you wash or bleach them,” says Chung. “Clients feel comfortable with Zero Travity towels, knowing that they are new and not reused.”

From the handling of raw materials to packaging, they are meticulous every step of the way; users can feel the difference between their brand versus other companies, as all their products are vacuum sealed and sanitized.Zero Travity’s packaging is P-Life certified and entirely biodegradable.

*The Product has been sterilised by Ethylene oxide

Biodegradability tested in accordance with ISO 14855-1, fulfills EN 13432 standard

With the slow but steady recovery of our society, people are returning to their normal day-to-day pre-pandemic lives. One thing hasn’t changed, Covid-19 has heightened people’s concern for hygiene and overall well being, so Chung’s products come in handy with post-pandemic life. With the new wave of economy focused on going green, Chung has his eyes set on expanding his products and services while simultaneously giving him a great opportunity to change people’s perspectives on nonwoven fabrics. 

As a large portion of Chung’s business specialised in reusable shopping bags, masks and medical protective equipment even before the SARS pandemic hit in 2003, they were able to capitalize on the urgent demands. Additionally, as Vice President of the Hong Kong Nonwoven Association, Chung’s reputation and vast network won the favor of the Hong Kong government in supplying masks for clinics and hospitals. 

Chung attributes his success to continuing doing well in the things that he is currently doing, and keeping the passion alive. “The key to keeping a competitive edge is vertical integration,” he emphasizes. “As a manufacturer, I want to ensure that all the raw materials are sourced from my own company, and produced within the same factory. This arrangement allows for greater flexibility on the products we create as we are our own supplier.”

Chung points out that nonwoven fabrics were used in Taiwan for wind protection nets for outdoor gardening. In the past when those nets were incorporated with plastic, the nets would degrade into microplastics which would harm the soil. However these nonwoven fabrics made of plant fibers photodegrade into fragments that do not raise any concern.

He also notes that in Europe especially, there is a growing market for nonwoven products, as the authorities are implementing tax augmentations to further push for a decreased usage of plastics in an attempt at transitioning to a more eco-friendly market.

Going green doesn’t mean you have to adopt extreme measures, says Chung, because simply encouraging people to take baby steps still counts as part of a global collective effort to foster sustainability.  

Chung admits to wanting to be a trendsetter as opposed to a follower; he believes the demand for greener and more eco-friendly products will reach new heights in the coming years as people are becoming more aware of social issues like global warming and climate change. “It will be an arduous journey that calls for concerted efforts worldwide,” he observes.

While Hong Kong is comparatively slow in terms of going green, Chung stresses that there must be a first step in this journey, and he is ready, willing and able to play an active, leading role. Their target market is not limited to Hong Kong alone, as they hope to lead this trend in Asia as well.

 “Going green doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise your wallet, user experience or style,” he concludes. “Once we’ve found the common ground, things can move very quickly.

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