The LYCRA Company Annnounces GRS Certification For Its New LYCRA® Ecomade Fiber

Image Courtesy of Lycra Ecomade

WILMINGTON, Del. -The LYCRA Company, a global leader in innovative fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, announced its new LYCRA® EcoMade fibers Type 166E and 162E, currently produced in Brazil, have been certified to the GRS (Global Recycled Standard).

LYCRA® EcoMade fiber is the company’s first branded spandex that is made with pre-consumer recycled materials.

This offerings were the primary focus of The LYCRA® Company’s booth at the Kingpins New York denim trade show.

Consumers want more from their jeans in terms of innovations and fabric performance, and increasingly, they are concerned about the impact their buying decisions have on the planet.

Now more than ever, eco-conscious consumers (especially millennials) are looking for sustainable or “green” fashion options to reduce their carbon footprint and feel good about their purchase.

In addition, the fashion industry has been challenged to reduce waste and adopt more sustainable business practices.

“We’re excited to have received GRS certification for these new products,” said Jean Hegedus, sustainability director, The LYCRA Company.

The Global Recycled Standard verifies recycled material and includes strict social, environmental and chemical requirements.

LYCRA® EcoMade fiber offers the same lasting comfort, fit and freedom of movement as the original LYCRA® fiber, but is made partly with fiber waste collected at the company’s manufacturing sites and blended with virgin polymer at specific concentrations.

This reduces waste and puts it back into production.

“We believe sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement that touches every aspect of our business, from reducing energy, water usage and waste at our sites to developing new products with excellent performance and a smaller footprint,” said Hegedus. “As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability under The LYCRA Company’s Planet Agenda, we have also set a goal to convert the vast majority of our COOLMAX® and THERMOLITE® fiber business to post-consumer recycled versions by 2021.”