Lycra showcases 70% plant-based renewable fiber at Textile Exchange Conference

The Lycra Company will showcase a renewable fiber made from field corn at the Textile Exchange Conference in Vancouver from October 12 to 16. The fiber contains 70 percent plant-based content and can cut its carbon footprint by up to 45 percent compared with petroleum-based spandex.

The renewable fiber uses U.S.-grown dent corn as a key feedstock, sourced largely from Iowa, and is now produced at commercial scale.

“Bringing more recycled and renewable materials to commercial scale is essential to turning the industry’s ambitions into action,” Alistair Williamson, company vice president of product sustainability said.

Over the last few years, Lycra said it has been working with textile recyclers worldwide to build and refine systems that separate spandex from companion yarns, such as nylon and polyester, from pre-consumer textile waste, and spin it back into new spandex fibers.

What we know

• Renewable Lycra Fiber contains 70 percent plant-based content.

• The fiber’s life‑cycle assessment shows up to a 45 percent reduction in carbon footprint.

• The Textile Exchange Conference runs from October 12 to 16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada.

• The material saw its first commercial adoption in December of last year in swimwear by Italian brand Arena.

• The corn used for the fiber is sourced largely from Iowa.