Latest news with #QIRA®
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Qore Launches in Eddyville, Iowa, Ushering in Large-Scale Corn Processing for Bio-Based Solutions
EDDYVILLE, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qore, a joint venture of Minnesota-based Cargill and Germany-based HELM, is officially starting production of QIRA ®, the world's first large-scale 1,4-butanediol (BDO) made from locally grown dent corn. QIRA is derived from annually renewable crops and serves as an impactful alternative to a fossil-derived equivalent used in the manufacture of consumer goods. A grand opening event, held on July 22, 2025, will celebrate the completion of the $300-million facility and the official start of QIRA production. The event will include elected officials, Iowa farmers, interactive exhibits, and a panel discussion with company employees, executives, and QIRA customers. The new facility is set to produce 66,000 metric tons of QIRA, using corn grown primarily within 100 miles of the site. As the world's largest facility of its kind, it marks a major step forward in meeting global demand for more sustainable materials in everyday consumer products. 'Qore is able to leverage the deep agricultural network and world-class fermentation technology expertise from Cargill and HELM's global market reach to bring QIRA to life,' said Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore. 'By providing a reliable, renewable, and transparent feedstock, QIRA helps global manufacturers and brands implement identical materials that reduce reliance on oversea supply chains, bringing more transparency to their product portfolios.' At the heart of the environmental benefits are Iowa farmers who apply regenerative agriculture practices for growing dent corn. These practices are a holistic and inclusive approach to land management, meant to restore soil and ecosystem health. The proximity of the feedstock enables greater traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain. 'This is a bold, exciting step forward for Qore, our state, and the supply chains of the world. Now, thanks to the incredible innovation behind QIRA, Qore's bio-based BDO, Iowa crops will not only feed and fuel the globe but sustain it,' Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said. 'I'm grateful to Cargill, HELM, and everyone who helped steward this site from vision to reality. In doing so, they've paved the way to stronger markets and more sustainable supply chains. I couldn't be happier to help Qore, its workers, and our citizens reach new heights of prosperity — together.' Versatile Applications for a Range of Industries QIRA® is an identical replacement to fossil-derived BDO and can readily drop in to manufacturing processes across multiple industries, including: Fashion and Footwear – Helping to reduce the environmental footprint of textiles and apparel, while providing transparency of feedstock Beauty and Personal Care – Offering more sustainable alternatives for existing ingredient formulations Automotive and Electronics – Supporting more sustainable advancements in durable goods Packaging – Lowering reliance on fossil-based plastics derived from petroleum and coal Top companies are already integrating QIRA® into their product strategies. The LYCRA Company is adopting QIRA® to enhance the sustainability of LYCRA® fiber, with the potential to reduce its carbon footprint by up to 44-percent* compared to fossil-based alternatives – all without sacrificing performance. Similarly, BASF, a global leader in chemical innovation, has secured a long-term supply agreement to incorporate QIRA® into its existing derivatives portfolio. "By offering a bio-based alternative to fossil-based feedstock, we are empowering brands to reduce their environmental impact and respond to consumer demands for transparency, more sustainable, high-performing products," said Steve Kuiper, a fourth-generation Iowa farmer. 'Our community is proud to play a vital role in making everyday products more sustainable.' *Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc. Media Resources View the event agenda and speaker list here. Access images, video and other assets here. About Qore, LLC Formed through a joint venture between Cargill, Incorporated, and HELM America Corp. (a subsidiary of Germany-based HELM AG) (HELM), Qore, LLC (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 help reduce greenhouse gas emissions when replacing today's widely used chemical intermediates made from traditional fossil sources. Bio-derived QIRA ® is used the same way as its fossil counterpart while reducing dependency on fossil resources and reducing pollution associated with their extraction. Qore and QIRA are registered trademarks of HELM AG. About Cargill Cargill, Incorporated (Cargill) is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. Our approximately 160,000 employees innovate with purpose, providing customers with life's essentials so businesses can grow, communities prosper, and consumers live well. With 160 years of experience as a family company, we look ahead while remaining true to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing—today and for generations to come. For more information, visit and our News Center. About HELM HELM is a Hamburg, Germany, based family-owned company established in 1900. With up to 100 subsidiaries and participations in more than 30 countries, HELM is one of the largest independent chemical companies worldwide. HELM is committed to providing solutions that help its partners to tackle the reduction of CO2 emissions and the loss of biodiversity. Through its global presence, the company also strives to create positive impact in local societies around the world. HELM's partnerships in Lithium, bio-based BDO, and digital tools supporting efficient agriculture are recent examples which support that goal. HELM is active in the chemicals and energy materials industry as well as agriculture and pharmaceuticals. For more info visit
Fashion United
02-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
CEOs of The LYCRA Company and Qore® Join Global Fashion Summit Lineup
The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing sustainable fibers and solutions for the apparel industry, announced today that its CEO, Gary Smith, is a speaker at the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025. He will be joined on stage by Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®, the maker of QIRA®, a next-generation BDOand a key ingredient in bio-derived LYCRA® fiber, which is launching later this year. Smith and Veldhouse will discuss the development of this sustainable fiber made from annually renewable field corn during their Fireside Chat: From Farm to Fashion. Their session takes place on Wednesday, June 4, at 3:35 CEST in the DR Concert Hall. The discussion will be moderated by Amy Nguyen, a researcher, writer, and founder of Sustainable & Social. This is the first time both companies are participating in the Global Fashion Summit, a premier platform focused on sustainability in the fashion industry. The companies have a prominent exhibit space for attendees to learn more about bio-derived LYCRA® fiber made with QIRA®. Here, visitors can be transported to the Qore® site and cornfields in Iowa through a virtual reality experience. Bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber will be the world's first large-scale, commercially available renewable elastane. It delivers equivalent performance to the original LYCRA® fiber and serves as a one-to-one replacement with no re-engineering of fabrics, processes, or garment patterns required. The product contains 70 percent renewable content and can potentially reduce the carbon footprint of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44 percent*. The LYCRA Company holds patents related to this renewable fiber in several regions including Europe. 'We're proud to join the Global Fashion Summit for the first time and showcase how collaboration can accelerate a more sustainable future for fashion,' said Gary Smith, CEO of The LYCRA Company. 'Partnering with Qore® has enabled us to scale innovation that is renewable and ready to meet the demands of global fashion brands striving to meet their sustainability goals.' The newly constructed Qore® site in Eddyville, Iowa, began operating last month and has started producing QIRA®. The company will host a grand opening celebration in July. 'Starting production at our new state-of-the-art facility marks a major step forward—not just for Qore®, but for the entire industry,' said Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®. 'With QIRA® now being made in Iowa from annually renewable field corn, we're turning sustainable innovation into reality and helping our partners bring next-generation materials to market.' Learn more about this renewable offering by visiting *Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Business Upturn
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
CEOs of The LYCRA Company and Qore® Join Global Fashion Summit Lineup
Wilmington, Del., United States: The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing sustainable fibers and solutions for the apparel industry, announced today that its CEO, Gary Smith, is a speaker at the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025. He will be joined on stage by Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®, the maker of QIRA®, a next-generation BDO and a key ingredient in bio-derived LYCRA® fiber, which is launching later this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: LYCRA® brand and QIRA® are principal sponsors of the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025. The brands are exhibiting at the event, where they will promote bio-derived LYCRA® fiber made with QIRA®, derived from field corn, to help make fashion more sustainable. Smith and Veldhouse will discuss the development of this sustainable fiber made from annually renewable field corn during their Fireside Chat: From Farm to Fashion. Their session takes place on Wednesday, June 4, at 3:35 CEST in the DR Concert Hall. The discussion will be moderated by Amy Nguyen, a researcher, writer, and founder of Sustainable & Social. This is the first time both companies are participating in the Global Fashion Summit, a premier platform focused on sustainability in the fashion industry. The companies have a prominent exhibit space for attendees to learn more about bio-derived LYCRA® fiber made with QIRA®. Here, visitors can be transported to the Qore® site and cornfields in Iowa through a virtual reality experience. Bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber will be the world's first large-scale, commercially available renewable elastane. It delivers equivalent performance to the original LYCRA® fiber and serves as a one-to-one replacement with no re-engineering of fabrics, processes, or garment patterns required. The product contains 70 percent renewable content and can potentially reduce the carbon footprint of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44 percent*. The LYCRA Company holds patents related to this renewable fiber in several regions including Europe. 'We're proud to join the Global Fashion Summit for the first time and showcase how collaboration can accelerate a more sustainable future for fashion,' said Gary Smith, CEO of The LYCRA Company. 'Partnering with Qore® has enabled us to scale innovation that is renewable and ready to meet the demands of global fashion brands striving to meet their sustainability goals.' The newly constructed Qore® site in Eddyville, Iowa, began operating last month and has started producing QIRA®. The company will host a grand opening celebration in July. 'Starting production at our new state-of-the-art facility marks a major step forward—not just for Qore®, but for the entire industry,' said Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®. 'With QIRA® now being made in Iowa from annually renewable field corn, we're turning sustainable innovation into reality and helping our partners bring next-generation materials to market.' Learn more about this renewable offering by visiting *Estimate 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 is a leading global fiber and technology solutions provider to the apparel and personal care industries committed to offering sustainable products using renewable, pre-, and post-consumer recycled ingredients that reduce waste and help set the stage for circularity. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, United States, it owns the LYCRA®, LYCRA HyFit®, LYCRA® T400®, COOLMAX®, THERMOLITE®, ELASPAN®, SUPPLEX® and TACTEL® brands. The LYCRA Company adds value to its customers' products by offering unique innovations that meet the consumer's need for comfort and lasting performance. Learn more at 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. For more information and inquiries, visit About The Global Fashion Summit Global Fashion Summit is a leading international forum for sustainability in fashion, presented by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA). Convening major decision makers from across the world, the forum was first launched in 2009 and has become a nexus for agenda-setting discussions and presentations on the most critical environmental, social and ethical issues facing our industry and planet, all intended to spark urgent action and accelerate impact in the industry. Learn more at LYCRA® is a trademark of The LYCRA Company. QIRA® is a trademark of Qore®. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Business Wire
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
CEOs of The LYCRA Company and Qore ® Join Global Fashion Summit Lineup
WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing sustainable fibers and solutions for the apparel industry, announced today that its CEO, Gary Smith, is a speaker at the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025. He will be joined on stage by Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore ®, the maker of QIRA ®, a next-generation BDO and a key ingredient in bio-derived LYCRA ® fiber, which is launching later this year. The CEOs of The LYCRA Company and Qore® will discuss the development of bio-derived LYCRA® fiber made with QIRA®, made from annually renewable field corn, during their Fireside Chat at the Global Fashion Summit: From Farm to Fashion. Share Smith and Veldhouse will discuss the development of this sustainable fiber made from annually renewable field corn during their Fireside Chat: From Farm to Fashion. Their session takes place on Wednesday, June 4, at 3:35 CEST in the DR Concert Hall. The discussion will be moderated by Amy Nguyen, a researcher, writer, and founder of Sustainable & Social. This is the first time both companies are participating in the Global Fashion Summit, a premier platform focused on sustainability in the fashion industry. The companies have a prominent exhibit space for attendees to learn more about bio-derived LYCRA ® fiber made with QIRA ®. Here, visitors can be transported to the Qore ® site and cornfields in Iowa through a virtual reality experience. Bio-derived LYCRA ® EcoMade fiber will be the world's first large-scale, commercially available renewable elastane. It delivers equivalent performance to the original LYCRA ® fiber and serves as a one-to-one replacement with no re-engineering of fabrics, processes, or garment patterns required. The product contains 70 percent renewable content and can potentially reduce the carbon footprint of LYCRA ® fiber by up to 44 percent*. The LYCRA Company holds patents related to this renewable fiber in several regions including Europe. 'We're proud to join the Global Fashion Summit for the first time and showcase how collaboration can accelerate a more sustainable future for fashion,' said Gary Smith, CEO of The LYCRA Company. 'Partnering with Qore ® has enabled us to scale innovation that is renewable and ready to meet the demands of global fashion brands striving to meet their sustainability goals.' The newly constructed Qore ® site in Eddyville, Iowa, began operating last month and has started producing QIRA ®. The company will host a grand opening celebration in July. 'Starting production at our new state-of-the-art facility marks a major step forward—not just for Qore ®, but for the entire industry,' said Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore ®. 'With QIRA ® now being made in Iowa from annually renewable field corn, we're turning sustainable innovation into reality and helping our partners bring next-generation materials to market.' Learn more about this renewable offering by visiting *Estimate 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 is a leading global fiber and technology solutions provider to the apparel and personal care industries committed to offering sustainable products using renewable, pre-, and post-consumer recycled ingredients that reduce waste and help set the stage for circularity. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, United States, it owns the LYCRA ®, LYCRA HyFit ®, LYCRA ® T400 ®, COOLMAX ®, THERMOLITE ®, ELASPAN ®, SUPPLEX ® and TACTEL ® brands. The LYCRA Company adds value to its customers' products by offering unique innovations that meet the consumer's need for comfort and lasting performance. Learn more at 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. For more information and inquiries, visit About The Global Fashion Summit Global Fashion Summit is a leading international forum for sustainability in fashion, presented by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA). Convening major decision makers from across the world, the forum was first launched in 2009 and has become a nexus for agenda-setting discussions and presentations on the most critical environmental, social and ethical issues facing our industry and planet, all intended to spark urgent action and accelerate impact in the industry. Learn more at
