The LYCRA Company and Qore® collaborate on next-gen bio-derived materials

Farm to fiber

The LYCRA Company and Qore^® collaborate on next-gen bio-derived materials

Collaborating on sustainable solutions

The LYCRA Company is entering a groundbreaking collaboration with Qore® to drive the textile industry toward greater sustainability. Qore® is the maker of QIRA®, a next-generation 1,4-butanediol (BDO) derived from dent corn. Unlike fossil-fuel-based BDO, QIRA® is produced from renewable feedstock, helping significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.

Commercial-scale availability of this renewable fiber is expected in late 2025. This innovation will allow both The LYCRA Company and its customers to reduce environmental impact while sourcing high-performance, sustainable materials.

Seeding a bold new solution

Made with 70% renewable content derived from field corn
Potentially reduces the carbon footprint of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44%*
Grown predominantly on wind-powered farms
Delivers comparable performance to the original spandex fiber

About QIRA^®

QIRA® is the flagship product of Qore®, a joint venture between Cargill—a global leader in agricultural and fermentation technologies—and HELM, a leading chemical marketer and distributor.

Unlike traditional fossil-fuel-based BDO, QIRA® is derived from field corn (dent corn), an annually renewable resource not used for direct human consumption. This bio-derived BDO will be converted into PTMEG, the critical ingredient in LYCRA® fiber.

https://www.thelycracompany.com/