The LYCRA Company, a leader in the development of cutting-edge fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, revealed that several of its manufacturing facilities had their self-assessments for the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) and Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) verified by an impartial third party last year and received results in the top quartile.

The LYCRA Company's production facilities in Waynesboro, Virginia, Maydown, Northern Ireland, and Foshan, China, as well as those in Tuas, Singapore, and Maydown, completed verification for the Higg FEM module and the Higg FSLM module, respectively.

Higg FEM examines water utilization, wastewater management, waste management, chemical management, and air pollutants. Six manufacturing locations for The LYCRA Company have completed the self-assessment, with the three aforementioned locations obtaining verification. By 2024, the business wants to have Higg FEM validated in 80% of LYCRA® fiber production sites.

Alan McElreavey, manager of the operations sustainability program of The LYCRA Company, said that The LYCRA Company wants to be an industry leader in sustainability by using credible and independently validated data.

McElreavey added that the Higg Facilities modules are frequently used in the garment sector to evaluate the environmental effect of manufacturing facilities, to identify areas for development, and to compare their progress to predetermined baseline performance. The completion of the modules for the Higg site fosters corporate practices that improve their sustainable culture and result in quantifiable improvement.

Hector Chapa, business integration manager for the Waynesboro facility, said that Higg FEM is linked with their goals in key impact areas and helps them improve their sustainability profile and operate as a responsible corporate citizen. It also helps corporate responsibility and manufacturing excellence, two pillars of their Planet Agenda sustainability strategy."

The production facilities of The LYCRA Company in Tuas, Singapore, and Maydown, Northern Ireland, both of which passed third-party verification of their Higg FSLM, received results that were in the top quartile. The Higg FSLM self-assessment highlights opportunities for continual improvement and offers insights into social progress and labor conditions at each location, including pay and health and safety.

Kok Beng Chew, director of operations for Asia Pacific, said that their upstream and downstream customers are increasingly asking suppliers like them to provide independent certifications that assess the environmental impact of their facilities, as well as social and labor practices in the workplace. The Higg Facility Tools help them keep on track and be a responsible producer of spandex, thus they are essential for business today.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a non-profit organization that created the Higg Facility Tools, includes The LYCRA Corporation as a member. More than 280 participants in the fashion sector make up the international association.