Launched in 2008, Planet Agenda, The LYCRA Company’s sustainability framework, is based on the belief that to have a healthy business, we must have a healthy planet. The framework, which touches every aspect of the company’s business from people to products and processes, is built on three pillars: product sustainability, manufacturing excellence and corporate responsibility.
As a leader and a solutions provider at the beginning of the apparel value chain, The LYCRA Company understands it has both a responsibility and an opportunity to help advance sustainability for the industry.
“We do this by delivering insights, processes and products that add value and conserve resources,” said Jean Hegedus, the company’s director of sustainable business development. “It was the heritage of working together with our customers and other third parties, along with the urgent need for collaboration throughout the value chain in order to meet the industry’s goals, that inspired the theme of ‘Together, we go further’ for the 2022 Planet Agenda Update.”
Staying accountable to itself and the industry, The LYCRA Company’s second annual Planet Agenda Update reveals the progress it has made in pursuit of its 2030 sustainability goals which are aligned with five of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Highlights of the report include news on innovative products for sustainable fashion, including fibers made from recycled and renewable inputs to reduce carbon emissions as well as durable fibers for long wear life; a notable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions driven in part by the company’s Maydown, Northern Ireland site converting its purchased electricity to renewable sources through Energy Attribution Certificates (EACs), and three manufacturing sites achieving third-party verified top-quartile performance in the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM), with two achieving the same level in the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM).
“At The LYCRA Company, we are passionate about providing lasting comfort, fit and performance that our customers and consumers alike desire,” said Nicolas Banyols, chief commercial officer. “This passion is evident every day as we carry out our company’s purpose: enhancing life through innovative garment solutions. We believe having a clear sustainability roadmap is essential — a holistic strategy that moves our business forward and supports our customers.”
One of the key highlights in the area of product sustainability in 2022 was the company’s signing of an agreement to collaborate with Qore® which will enable the production of bio-derived LYCRA® fiber, starting in 2024. This will reduce the carbon emissions of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44 percent* while providing the same excellent performance as original LYCRA® fiber. On the polyester side of its business, the company also introduced THERMOLITE® insulation made from 100 percent textile waste, providing a stepping stone for the industry to close its own loop.
On the manufacturing front, the company reduced its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 14 percent globally and energy consumption by 5.7 percent. The overall waste generated by its production sites declined by 9 percent and water usage by two percent. “While we still have a way to go to meet our 2030 goals, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made thus far and look forward to continuing our sustainability journey,” said Hegedus.
Under the Corporate Responsibility pillar, each of the company’s manufacturing, processing, and headquarters sites continued the tradition of supporting their local communities. Initiatives covered a broad range of areas from biodiversity education, food security and childcare to fire safety, environmental stewardship, inclusive employment and fitness promotion. In the area of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the company provided DEI awareness training to over 2,300 employees. The company also continues to support organizations dedicated to the advancement of sustainability in the industry.
The LYCRA Company’s journey of innovation and impact continues with the publication of the 2022 Planet Agenda Update. This reporting demonstrates the steps the company is taking to address the UN’s SDGs and the commitments the company is making to a more sustainable future.
*Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll US Consulting, Inc.
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