Lycra sites’ Higg scores now independently verified
US-headquartered fibre producer The Lycra Company has revealed that its own Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) and Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) assessments of four manufacturing plants have been third-party verified, obtaining “scores in the top quartile”.
So far, six sites have undergone Higg FEM self-assessment, the company said, while its results for three have been verified.
These facilities are located in Foshan, China, the village of Maydown in Northern Ireland and the US city of Waynesboro, Virginia. The aim is to have at least 80% of its fibre production plants verified to Higg FEM standard by next year.
Maydown also passed third-party verification for its Higg FSLM results, as did the Lycra factory in Tuas, Singapore. Their scores were again in the top quartile.
Higg FEM looks at emissions, energy and water usage, environmental and chemical management systems, waste and wastewater generation, whereas Higg FSLM considers criteria relating to workplace healthy and safety, plus more. A copy of the third-party verification reports for all four sites can be requested from Lycra directly.
“Our upstream and downstream customers are increasingly asking suppliers like us to provide independent certifications,” commented regional operations director for Asia-Pacific, Kok Beng Chew. “The Higg facility tools enable us to stay on track and be a responsible elastane producer.”
Both modules were developed by Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which counts The Lycra Company as a member.
The four sites that obtained independent verification. Credit: The Lycra Company.
