Iowa is shining with the gold standard in sustainable materials innovation. In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, host Leisa Fox sits down with Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®, to explore the grand opening of their cutting‑edge facility in Eddyville—where QIRA®, acclaimed as the gold standard for bio-based alternatives to petroleum-derived ingredients, is now in production.
Qore—a joint venture between Cargill and HELM AG—has launched a $300 million facility capable of producing 66,000 metric tons of QIRA annually using locally grown corn and renewable energy. By harnessing regenerative agriculture practices and regional supply chains, QIRA is setting a new benchmark in sustainability while supporting Iowa’s economy and environment. Check this out: https://www.thelycracompany.com/en/lycra-company-press-center/press-center/qore-plant-opening
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In this episode, Jon walks us through how the collaboration with global brands like The LYCRA Company is turning QIRA into high-performance, renewable LYCRA® fiber—bringing 70% renewable content to spandex while maintaining uncompromised quality. Visit both LYCRA’s story on renewable LYCRA® fiber made with QIRA® and QIRA’s own vision and capabilities at:
- LYCRA’s sustainability page: https://www.thelycracompany.com/en/sustainability/renewable-lycra-fiber-made-with-qira
- QIRA’s official site: https://www.myqira.com/qira-company