A global leader in developing innovative fibre and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, the LYCRA Company has announced that its Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) and Higg Facility Social and labour Module (Higg FSLM) self-assessments for several of its manufacturing sites were verified by an independent third party last year and achieved top quartile scores.
Air emissions, energy use, wastewater waste, chemical management, water usage and environmental management systems are reviewed by the Higg FEM. Six manufacturing sites of the LYCRA Company have completed the self-assessment and the company’s goal is to have sites representing 80 per cent of LYCRA® fibre production be Higg FEM verified by 2024.
“The LYCRA Company strives to be an industry leader for sustainability by utilizing credible and independently verified data,” said Alan McElreavey, operations sustainability program manager at The LYCRA Company. “The Higg Facilities modules are widely used within the apparel industry to assess the environmental impact of manufacturing facilities, to uncover opportunities for improvement, and to measure our progress against established baseline performance. Completing the Higg facility modules drives behaviors that become embedded in our company, enhancing our sustainability culture and creating measurable change.”
“Higg FEM is aligned with our goals in key impact areas and helps us improve our sustainability profile and operate as a good corporate citizen,” said Hector Chapa, Waynesboro site business integration manager. “It also supports two pillars of our Planet Agenda sustainability platform—corporate responsibility and manufacturing excellence.”
Insights into social progress and labour conditions, including compensation and health and safety are assessed by the Higg FSLM. It also identifies areas for continuous improvement.
“Our upstream and downstream customers are increasingly asking suppliers like us to provide independent certifications that assess the environmental impact of their facilities, as well as social and labour practices in the workplace,” said Kok Beng Chew, Asia Pacific Regional Operations Director. “The Higg Facility Tools are a must-have for business today because they enable us to stay on track and be a responsible spandex producer.”
The LYCRA Company is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a nonprofit alliance that developed the Higg Facility Tools. The global organisation consists of over 280 stakeholders in the fashion industry.
