WILMINGTON, DEL.-- June 01, 2023 -- The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing innovative and sustainable fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, announced today that it is a supporting partner of the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting on June 1. The company’s sustainability director, Jean Hegedus, will be a panelist at the meeting taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City that will bring together media, industry stakeholders, and United Nations representatives to highlight actions, solutions, and progress from the fashion and lifestyle sectors to advance knowledge and strengthen engagement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hegedus will join the panel discussion on “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Designing a Better Future” in support of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number nine. She will highlight The LYCRA Company’s previously announced collaboration with Qore® to use its QIRA® product to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44 percent.*

Made from field or dent corn, QIRA® is a key ingredient that will be used to make bio-derived LYCRA® fiber. With 70% renewable content, this new fiber can be used in a wide range of applications including swimwear, denim, and diapers.

“The LYCRA Company is committed to delivering solutions that will help our customers reduce their footprint and support their sustainability goals,” said Hegedus. “Our collaboration with Qore® enables us to address decarbonization with much-needed scale and speed.”

Renewable LYCRA® fiber with QIRA® will deliver equivalent functionality and meet the same performance standards as the traditional fiber. As a result, mills, brands, and retailers will appreciate that it will not require re-engineering of processes, garment patterns or fabrics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jean Hegedus back to our second annual meeting,” said Kerry Bannigan, executive director of Fashion Impact Fund. “As a United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network Member, The LYCRA Company has shown their commitment to forging a path towards a more sustainable future, and the collaborative work they are doing with industry partners helps support the sector’s progressive strides in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

*Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll US Consulting, Inc.