The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing innovative,
sustainable solutions for the apparel and personal care industries,
announced today that it has signed a letter of intent with Dairen
Chemical Corporation (DCC) to convert QIRA®—the next generation of
1,4 butanediol (BDO)—into low-impact PTMEG, the main ingredient in
patented bio-derived LYCRA® fiber. Dairen will be the first company
in the world to mass produce this low-impact bio-PTMEG at
scale.
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Left to Right: Steve Stewart, chief brand
and innovation officer, The LYCRA Company, and Shean-Tung Lin,
Chairman, Dairen Chemical Corporation (DCC), sign a letter of
intent for DCC to convert QIRA® into low-impact PTMEG for
bio-derived LYCRA® fiber. (Photo: Business Wire)
In September 2022, The LYCRA Company and Qore® announced they
were joining forces to enable the production of bio-derived LYCRA®
fiber made with QIRA®. Now, DCC joins this distinctive
collaboration, converting QIRA® into bio-PTMEG. This unique PTMEG
will make up the renewable portion of LYCRA® fiber, accounting for
70% of the fiber’s content. It is being made exclusively for The
LYCRA Company to its stringent specifications. With its low-impact
allyl alcohol process, DCC has pioneered a technology that creates
the lowest-impact PTMEG available, which is cleaner and has a lower
carbon footprint than product produced with natural gas or
coal.1
The LYCRA Company, Qore®, and DCC are united by a shared
commitment to R&D, health and safety, sustainability, and
conservation. To mark this event, Steve Stewart, The LYCRA
Company’s chief brand and innovation officer, presented DCC with a
Green Partner Award. The award acknowledges DCC’s ongoing
sustainability efforts and commitment to creating low-impact
products.
“Our collaboration heralds a brand-new era of environmentally
conscious production activities, fueled by our shared commitment to
reducing carbon footprints and developing world-leading
eco-friendly solutions,” said DCC’s chairman, Lin Shean-Tung.
“Sustainability is not merely a trend, but an imperative for the
future of our planet. We are honored to receive the Green Partner
Award and embark on this journey alongside The LYCRA Company,
advancing sustainable practices in the industry.”
Available in early 2025, patented bio-derived LYCRA® fiber made
with QIRA® will be the world’s first renewable spandex available on
a large scale. By using annually renewable dent corn, an initial
screening calculation indicates that the carbon footprint of LYCRA®
fiber potentially could be reduced by up to 44 percent2 compared to
LYCRA® fiber without bio-derived materials. Further, the fiber will
offer equivalent performance to traditional LYCRA® fiber, making it
an easy replacement for mills, brands and retailers.
“We are excited to collaborate with DCC to bring bio-derived
LYCRA® fiber made with QIRA® to market and realize our shared
vision for a more sustainable value chain,” said Stewart. “Given
the combination of using bio-derived input from corn, plus
conversion at a state-of-the-art QORE® facility run on wind power,
and transformation to PTMEG using DCC’s low-impact process, we
anticipate the potential for additional reductions as we go into
production.”
For many years, Dairen has demonstrated its sustainability
efforts in raw materials management, waste elimination, process
enhancement, innovations, and more. It has also achieved
significantly lower carbon emissions in its product offerings than
its competition.
“Sustainability has evolved from fulfilling requirements to
being a competitive advantage,” said Simon Chuang, vice president
of global sourcing and procurement at The LYCRA Company. “We’re
committed to selecting, promoting, and expanding our business with
supply partners like DCC who embrace and drive meaningful
sustainability efforts.”
Visit lycra.com/qira to learn more about bio-derived LYCRA®
fiber made with QIRA®.
1Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening PCF for a representative
DAIREN PTMEG manufacturing facility, year 2023, prepared by DNV
Business Assurance Co., Ltd.
2Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative
LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll
Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc.
About The LYCRA Company
The LYCRA Company innovates and produces fiber and technology
solutions for the apparel and personal care industries and owns the
leading consumer brands: LYCRA®, LYCRA HyFit®, LYCRA® T400®,
COOLMAX®, THERMOLITE®, ELASPAN®, SUPPLEX® and TACTEL®.
Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., The LYCRA Company is
recognized worldwide for its sustainable products, technical
expertise, and marketing support. The LYCRA Company focuses on
adding value to its customers’ products by developing unique
innovations designed to meet the consumer’s need for comfort and
lasting performance. For more information, visit lycra.com.
About Qore® LLC
Formed through a joint venture by Cargill and HELM AG, Qore®
helps leading brands replace fossil-based chemistries with
bio-derived intermediates. At the heart of the joint venture is the
production of QIRA®, the next-generation bio-derived 1,4-butanediol
(BDO). Made biologically through the fermentation of plant-based
sugars, QIRA® can save up to 86% of greenhouse gas emissions when
replacing today’s widely used chemical intermediates made from
traditional fossil sources. Bio-derived QIRA® can be used the same
way as its fossil counterpart but with significantly better
environmental performance. Qore® and QIRA® are trademarks of Qore®
LLC. For more information and inquiries visit
https://www.myqira.com/.
About Dairen Chemical Corporation (DCC)
Founded in 1979, DCC is a leading maker of acetyl and allyl
chemicals. The company board has been chaired by Mr. Lin Shean-Tung
since June 2019. DCC operates seven production sites in Asia and
serves customers in more than one hundred countries. Major products
include Vinyl Acetate Monomer, Vinyl Acetate Ethylene (VAE)
Emulsion, VAE Redispersible Powder, Allyl Alcohol, 1,4-Butanediol
and PTMEG. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, its productions sites
are in Taiwan, China, Singapore and Malaysia. Under the leadership
of Chairman Lin, DCC is expanding its international activities and
enhancing its global presence.
LYCRA® is a trademark of The LYCRA Company. QIRA® is a trademark
of Qore®.
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Karie J. Ford Karie.J.Ford@lycra.com