The Lycra Company has completed the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) self-assessment at all six of its Lycra fibre manufacturing sites.

The robust impact assessment – which reviews environmental management systems, energy use, emissions, water usage, wastewater, and waste and chemical management at the facility level – helps manufacturing locations establish an environmental baseline to pursue continuous improvement.

The Lycra Company’s Maydown site, in Northern Ireland, piloted the module more than a year ago and based on initial learnings, the remaining five production facilities completed self-assessments simultaneously.

“Having all sites complete the module underscores our commitment to manufacturing excellence across a broad variety of sustainability parameters and gives us a framework for future improvements,” said the company’s director of operations excellence Gary Huffman.

Modules can now be shared securely with customers on request through the Higg platform, offering insights into The Lycra Company’s sustainability performance and reinforcing its commitment to transparency.

The Higg Index suite of tools was developed by The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). The Higg FEM gives manufacturers, brands and retailers a clear, holistic picture of facility-specific environmental performance and impacts. Assessments help identify and scale opportunities for sustainability improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities and the environment. The Lycra Company is the only spandex (elastane) producer member of the SAC and plays an active role on several sub-committees of the coalition.

www.lycra.com