US' The LYCRA Company publishes annual Planet Agenda Update

US-based The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing sustainable and innovative fibre and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, has announced the publication of its first annual Planet Agenda Update. This Planet Agenda Update is named for The LYCRA Company’s sustainability framework that was established in 2008.

It has three pillars that touch every aspect of its business: corporate responsibility, product sustainability, and manufacturing excellence. The sustainability goals outlined in these documents are organised around these pillars, include 2030 targets (unless otherwise noted), and provide 2021 baseline performance.

“We believe in transparency and think it’s important to have a clear sustainability roadmap to guide our business into the future—a bold plan that fully supports our customers and stakeholders,” said Julien Born, chief executive officer of The LYCRA Company. “In support of this plan, we have signed the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Call-to-Action Commitment Letter, a testament to our company’s focus on lowering emissions and environmental impact. I’m proud of our teams’ work to advance our sustainability efforts and develop our 2030 goals as we work toward our 2050 net zero commitment.”

This update also outlines how the company’s sustainability goals align with five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and reports on its progress made thus far in reaching its objectives, The LYCRA Company said in a press release.

“We have a long legacy as an industry leader known for investing in developing sustainable fibres and collaborating across the value chain,” said Jean Hegedus, sustainability director at The LYCRA Company. “As we created our 2030 goals, we researched our customers’ goals to ensure that our goals supported them, which inspired the update’s theme of ‘What moves you…is what moves us.’”

The LYCRA Company is an innovation-driven organisation that began offering COOLMAX EcoMade fibre in 2008 and has since extended its recycled product line to include fibre branded under LYCRA, LYCRA T400, and THERMOLITE. It also produces LYCRA XTRA LIFE brand fibres for stretch apparel that delivers lasting shape and fit. Extending garment life with durable fibres reduces the environmental impact of garments and helps keep them out of landfills. The company recently announced an agreement with Qore LLC to use QIRA for bio-derived LYCRA fibre at scale.

“Our industry-leading research and development team is creating the next generation of sustainable offerings for apparel and personal care products right now. We can’t wait to share what’s next,” Born added.