These days, almost every type of sportswear contains a little Lycra®. Just 5% to 10% of it in any given garment provides the extra elasticity to maintain the garment’s shape and provide stretch. Most Americans wear clothes with a little Lycra® or Lycra®-like fabric every day. But do you ever think about how it’s made? In 2023, The LYCRA Company used the Higg Facility and Environmental Module (FEM) tool to examine air emissions, energy use, environmental management systems, wastewater, waste, chemical management, and water usage at its manufacturing plant in Waynesboro, Virginia. This tool is widely used in the apparel industry to help companies assess their environmental impact, find areas for improvement, and see how they stack up compared to similar facilities. A third party verified the results – the Waynesboro site scored in the top quartile among peer facilities. It is important to the health of the South River Watershed that manufacturing companies in the watershed seek to improve their sustainability profiles and operate responsibly. If you’d like to read more about the Higg FEM tool, click here and follow further links as provided.