Lycra’s long-term goal is to get to a fiber made with post-consumer content. The company is moving ahead on multiple fronts to support and expand its sustainability platform. This includes Lycra T400 EcoMade fiber made from 50 per cent recycled PET and 18 per cent plant-based materials, and technologies geared toward reducing waste, extending garment life and reducing or eliminating chemical use.
By 2021 the products in Coolmax will be converted to EcoMade, made with 97 per cent recycled PET. Standard Coolmax is made from virgin polyester. Coolmax fibers deliver cooling performance to garments by transporting moisture away from the body to the surface of the breathable fabric, where it evaporates quickly and helps the wearer stay dry and comfortable. The fiber is used as an ingredient in several product areas, including denim. Lycra’s Thermolite fiber, an insulation that delivers lightweight warmth, is also being coverted similarly to EcoMade recycled content.
Lycra EcoMade fibers have been certified to the Global Recycled Standard. Lycra EcoMade fiber is the company’s first branded spandex that is made with pre-consumer recycled materials. The EcoMade fiber offers the same lasting comfort, fit and freedom of movement as the original Lycra, 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.
