A SUSTAINABLE STRETCH SOLUTION IS COMING
LYCRA® fiber is entering a new era: Qore, maker of QIRA®, the key ingredient in our soon-to-be released bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber, has officially opened its manufacturing site in Eddyville, Iowa. That means we’re one step closer to large-scale production of bio-derived LYCRA® fiber — and a more sustainable spandex solution.
QIRA® is a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) made from dent corn grown in the US Midwest. It’s a 100% bio-based alternative to fossil-based BDO. When converted into PTMEG, the main ingredient in LYCRA® fiber, it is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44%* while delivering the same performance. So brands and mills can drop it into their manufacturing processes and get closer to their sustainability goals.
*Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll US Consulting, Inc.
FROM FARM TO FIBER
A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE
Qore and The LYCRA Company have collaborated closely on the journey to QIRA®. The LYCRA Company was Qore’s first customer, and our teams have worked together to engage the textile industry around this new development and drum up excitement for bio-derived LYCRA® fiber. Pictured left are Gary Smith, CEO of The LYCRA Company, farmer Jackson Drost, and Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore.
Contact us to be an early adopter“Developing sustainable solutions is no doubt a collective effort and our collaboration on bio-derived LYCRA® fiber with QIRA® is bringing an innovative, sustainable solution at scale to brands and retailers.”
Jon Veldhouse
CEO
Qore
“We’re working to help our customers reduce their footprint and support their sustainability goals. Our collaboration with Qore uses annually renewable corn crops as feedstock, enabling us to address decarbonization with much-needed scale and speed.”
Steve Stewart
Chief product officer
The LYCRA Company
Qore held a grand opening event in Iowa on July 22 to celebrate the completion of the $300 million facility. Elected officials, Iowa farmers, and The LYCRA Company’s CEO were among the guests and speakers; interactive exhibits and a facility tour gave a real-life view of the QIRA® production process. Early adopters of bio-derived LYCRA® fiber were also on hand, getting an inside look at how the innovative product is made.
The new site is the largest facility of its kind, producing 66,000 metric tons of QIRA® annually. Its opening marks a significant step forward in meeting global demand for more sustainable materials in apparel and other goods.
We’re proud to be a part of a more sustainable future for the textile industry. Congratulations to Qore!