It invested in 2016 USD 28 million to process plastic bottles in-house rather than using a third-party facility. Hey there! I can use virgin polyester and make a yarn thats safe, but then really screw it up at the dying stage [with toxic dyes]. If you decide to iron your clothing, select the lowest temperature possible to prevent any damage. But recycled polyester fibers like Repreve aren't as environmentally friendly as they seem. But it's not just the environmental benefits that have industry juggernauts lining up for Repreve; the fabric also has unique performance attributes. There are several reasons for this; the first one being the most obvious in that sustainability has become a personal pillar for many shoppers. Though some companies like Reformation and ADAY do have take-back programs. Were Earth Nerds and we take it seriously. Use it to make almost anything sustainable, with filament, staple fiber and fiber fill products. Repreve polyester is just as strong and durable as virgin polyester. Repreve polyester fabric is easy to care for and wash. It also releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It's responsible for huge amounts of waste, pollution, and carbon emissions. To save water, energy, and the quality of your garment, it's best to wash clothes made of Repreve in cold temperatures. Chemical recycling is very expensive and not often used [by companies] mainly because of the cost, but what that does is it brings the plastic, or whatever you're recycling, all the way down to its initial chemical property and completely resets that. In order to effectively reduce fashion waste, shopping secondhand and buying fewer clothes are some routes you can take. We love sustainability so much, we collect our own plastic bottles and feed them into our vertically integrated process to create REPREVE recycled polyester. To see how we feature current brand partners, follow the link below. The global textile and apparel industry isone of thelargest polluter globally. safe to wear clothing made from plastic water bottles, robust, government-regulated recycling program, United States alone, 1,500 plastic water bottles. UNIFI, REPREVE, REPREVE Our Ocean, A.M.Y., Chillsense, Cotton-like, Inhibit, Mynx, Reflexx, ResistO, SaturaMax, SmartDye Sorbtek, TruEffects, TruTemp365, Waterwise, XS Cross-section, U TRUST, and FiberPrint are all trademarks of Unifi, Inc. in the U.S. and other regions. Last Name *. Plastic waste, including PET bottles, is quickly becoming a global environmental and social issue. Using REPREVE strengthens our customers circular economy story by further closing the loop. But what is more shocking than that, is that these same bottles can be turned into actual, wearable fabric. This is certainly an abridged summary of the process, but Repreve in its simplest form is created in four steps. These pellets are what a fabric mill or a yarn mill would use to spin fiber. Everlane is one brand that uses the mechanical process, as shown below via its website. Latest news, style trends, outfit ideas, and recommendations. When it comes to emissions and waste, there is currently some debate about whether recycling water bottles into fabric instead of into water bottles is actually the better choice. Is REPREVE fabric stretchy? If you prefer nylon and polyester, make sure to check out our roundup of sustainable athletic brands, many of which are completely non-toxic. With Unifi's Fiberprint technology, products made from fabrics with Repreve . Spin filament threads into yarn and dye as necessary. No false claims. Food Safe Hook-Compatible Loop Waterproof PUL Stay Dry Stretch-FIT View All Functions By Brands. We value your feedback! Were everywhere from clothes and shoes to sofas and phone cases. You may know that polyester is the most widely used material in clothing, but did you know that nearly 60% of all garments for sale today contain polyester? TRACEABLE. Discover the sustainable REPREVE Recycled Food Safe PUL. Our yarn has its own traceable fingerprint, or as we call it, FiberPrint. But, most companies are choosing to move towards polyester based on cost and performance., The practice of using post-consumer water bottles for clothing is a trend industry leaders expect will become the status quo. Certifiable. They contribute to the high amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills every year. Numerous brands and organizations are pioneering the creation of bioplastics - plastic fibers made from plant sources such as seaweed or sugarcane. And all the alternatives are 100% green. Zorb Super Absorbent ProSoft ECO . Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. The material is very flexible and often blended with elastane or spandex to make it even more elastic. It represents 52 % of global fiber production. Our #TurnItGreen mobile tour never fails to wow.. Place them on a line in fresh air rather than using a dryer. Repreve Recycled Fabrics Zorb Super Absorbent Waterproof Eco-PUL ProCool One-Way Wicking Bamboo Fabrics The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is one of the world's best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. *By completing this form you're signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time. And at the end of the day, this organization is reducing the production of virgin polyester while also reusing existing waste, which are both positives. The Repreve manufacturing process begins with the collection of PET plastic bottles. How to Gain Access. We also collect and reuse industrial waste, starting with our own. Download PDF Contact Sales REPREVE Cationic Dyeable Polyester REPREVE recycled and performance fabric turned out to be such an innovative, high-quality material that brands from all kinds of industries have joined the sustainable movement. Repreve is a 100% recycled polyester fiber manufactured by the brand Unifi. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Sure, those are important, but they are also table stakes. Every year, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced, as reported by the United Nations. Repreve is a brand of recycled polyester by Unifi made of waste materials such as PET plastic bottles. Repreve is a recycled polyester brand name by Unifi, an American fiber manufacturer founded by George Allen Mebane IV in 1971. Polyester is a synthetic material and form of plastic made from non-renewable resources like petroleum. One of the biggest benefits for Repreve fabric to cooperate with Ford is Ford is one of best-selling vehicle company in the world such as F-150 is the best-selling truck in America, and as orders . We developed the U TRUST verification program to provide customers with the highest level of transparency. Repreve is made by Unifi, a manufacturer of specialty synthetic yarns that's been creating textiles for over 50 years. Today's consumer is far more mindful of the fabrics they wear and if they meet sustainability standards. Are there any toxic finishes on it? Manufacturers could use titanium instead of antimony to manufacture PET for bottles, but its more expensive and doesnt work as well, so they rarely do. That means, wherever our customers do businesswe provide high-quality, innovative products with transparency, integrity and consistency. So far, the company has managed to recycle more than 31 billion plastic bottles and the counter keeps going up every second! It diverts plastic waste from landfills to create durable, sustainable fibers that can be used in textile fabrics. Repreve polyester isn't the most sustainable fiber but its environmental impact is much lower than virgin polyester made from the raw material. The fabric is used to make a wide range of garments, including swim trunks, activewear, outdoor gear, etc. Were seeing people demand better materials, and that will only increase over time., Aside from the environmentally-friendly perspective, Mulvihill points out that the larger trend of brands moving towards using recycled polyester is simply the cost. Then, it undergoes chemical extraction. This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Available in polyester and nylon for greater comfort and options. It said nothing about the recycled content. Because BPA has completely different effects at low levels than it does at high levels, theres no such thing as a safe level,' Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie wrote in their 2009 book, Slow Death by Rubber Duck. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. In the production of polyester fabric, BPA can be used to create hygroscopic and antistatic fabric with colorfastness to washing. The fabric is made with ChillSense and at least 30% REPREVE, a fiber made from recycled plastic bottles with U TRUST verification to certify recycled content claims. This fabric is breathable, stretchy, and waterproof. And thats what REPREVE is. By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools. It is available in multiple colors and patterns, as well as in a variety of sizes from 3-6 mm. How Recycled Plastic Bottles Become Fiber. However, theres been a lot of research on how even the lowest doses of BPA can affect not only your hormones, but the development of your future children (youve already got the eggs for your future children in your body, and they can be affected by BPA in your system). However, the catch is that while PET itself is safe to wear, dyes and other finishing processes the natural or synthetic yarn goes through on its way to become that shirt or bikini can still contain harmful substances. REPREVE 's FibrePrint tracer can test any fabric to verify that it is indeed REPREVE fibre and in the required quantities - that is because tracer technology is uniquely embedded into the very fibres. If youre familiar with the world of toxic chemicals, you might have spied phthalate in there, which is part of a group of chemicals that are either known or suspected endocrine disruptors. REPREVE recycled fiber provides high quality and trusted sustainability, and that is why so many brands have decided to include this source in their production processes. It limits pressure on natural resources, reduces waste, pollution, and emissions. Yes, it is. Someone from our Sales Team will be in touch soon to assist you further with your interest in Unifi. Finally, the chip is heated, extruded and spun into the options shown in our Fiber Folio. "The cooling technology is inherent within the yarn, not requiring the addition of chemicals," states Jeff Veach, vice-president of sales and marketing for Culp Home Fashions. Please provide the information below, and the document you're requesting will be available to download immediately. This clever yarn imprint means we can verify products with our U Trust certification. Koreans are some Indian wear is a celebration of colors, textiles, prints, embroideries and various motifs. Thats another whole article, but in terms of your health, what really matters is the substances that were put on the material. Vegan Leather Made From Grapes? 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Please use the feedack button in the bottom right corner to submit suggestions. Repreve polyester considerably reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water, and energy consumption compared to conventional polyester. The fiber is now wound into spools and transformed into yarns through spinning. Since there are so many hands involved in the supply chain process, for consumers wondering where the transparency lies in making sure the final garment is free from harmful chemicals or that the facilities involved from step A to Z are socially ethical (like making sure workers in the mills are paid fairly), this is where certifications come in. Yes, REPREVE is a reliable and very durable fabric. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. To catch some of these microfibers before they make their way into the water system, brands like Rothys sell accompanying wash bags while Girlfriend Collective offers a microfiber filter for your washing machine. Company Size *. Recycled or not, polyesters are at the center of the microfiber shedding issue, and we still have more questions than answers about what causes it and how to avoid it." Recycled polyester is a leading example of how the global textile and apparel industry works to find solutions to its catastrophic social and environmental impacts. Can't find what you're looking for? sustainability One notable accomplishment is the amount of waste Repreve collects at its processing center in North Carolina, which receives over 130 million pounds of recycled material annually. Polyester is the most widely used fiber worldwide. Since Repreve uses recycled products only, its fiber doesn't require the extraction of additional fossil fuels. During this process, bottle labels are also removed by using steam. This process helps remove contaminants to make sure your fabrics are safe. But with the continued increase in consumer demand for sustainable apparel solutions, innovation research and development will continue to grow in tandem. Here are some of the main advantages of fabrics made from Repreve recycled polyester fibers: Some of the main disadvantages of using Repreve polyester in textile fabrics are: Taking good care of your clothes is one of the best ways to live more sustainably. Components like dyeing, shipping, manufacturing waste, and other elements all contribute to the sustainability of a garment. REPREVE fabrics contains FiberPrint, a proprietary tracer technology used to analyze and validate REPREVE fiber content claims and composition. It's a full product standard that dictates social and environmental best practices, and chemical restrictions. That has happened in the past.. The fabric provides moisture-wicking and thermal regulation properties, such as warming and cooling. We take yesterdays waste and give it a second life as sustainable fiber. Chips are then melted and extruded through spinning to form long filaments of Repreve polyester fiber. The fashion and textile industry is slowly changing for good. Polyester is made from synthetic materials derived from petroleum-based chemicals or petrochemical products. But I am not overly concerned about it impacting human health, he says. For big brands, check to see if theyre a member of ZDHC, an industry group that prohibits manufacturers from using certain toxic substances, or Afirm, which helps brands test their products before they get onto shelves. Washing Here are some of the certification standards awarded to Unifi for its Repreve recycled polyester. Solutions For Your Business, Enhanced services to fit your fiber's every need, Find out how and what is means to get your sustainable material certified, Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, From Asia to the Americas, Unifi's reach is global, Discover The U TRUST verification program is a comprehensive certification program designed to provide customers using REPREVE with the highest level of transparency. But make sure to avoid common mistakes to preserve its longevity. All content Copyright Unifi, Inc., 2022. That is, athletic apparel and the activities endured require these functional attributes of clothing. - Beth Jensen, Director of Sustainable Materials and Products at VF Corporation. REPREVE is a state-of-the-art, performance fiber made from all types of recycled materials, including plastic bottles. Yes, it is. Brands that want to change the world by using REPREVE receive their own profile page on our website. Made from up to 3 recycled plastic water bottles per yard, it is truly environmentally friendly. It can be hard to choose your best outfit when visiting another city, especially when it comes to Rome. Anything that cant be processed with the bottles gets removed, like the cap or ring, then the bottles head to a machine that breaks them down. And while their closets may still be filled with non-renewable fibers and materials, 58% of consumers care about the sustainability of materials and processes used in making their clothes. Extrude plastic pellets into long continuous filaments. Thank you for reviewing the new Unifi.com beta. If this is interesting to you, then youll want to pre-order my book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick. . H&M, New Balance, Nike, Patagonia, and many other global fashion brands use Repreve. Repreve polyester fabric is widely used in the textile and apparel industry. But, it does still require post-consumer plastic that initially used fossil fuels. Eco-conscious shoppers should, ideally, be able to find these certifications on a brands website. Something went wrong.Please try again later. Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. REPREVE has become the most recognizable brand for recycled fiber because unlike other recycled yarns it is certified by an outside party. Recycled materials are frequently used to create sustainable fashion items and lower the environmental impact of clothing production and consumption. On top of all this, once your recycled polyester garment is at the end of its lifecycle theres no singular place where you can dispose of it for it to be remade into another product. Hes now the co-founder and partner at Safer Made, a mission-driven venture capital fund that invests in companies and technologies that reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals. The ban on importing different types of solid waste, including plastic bottles and polyester textile waste has stalled global recycling. The test takes into account many regulated and non-regulated substances, which may be harmful to human health.The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 also guarantees that the textile product has been manufactured in sustainable processes under environmentally friendly and socially responsible work conditions. Therefore you can be certain that the fibres are produced with 100% recycled content. In fact, experts recommend that you never reuse a disposable water bottle, because of these chemicals that leach out. Half of its polyester is made in the Zhejiang region and a third in Jiangsu. The Lonsdale is a British fashion, sports equipment, and footwear retailer founded in London in 1960 by former boxer Bernard Hart and headquartered in Shirebrook, United Kingdom. We source, manufacture and sell innovative performance fiber in every major textile-producing region in the world. Were obsessed with doing everything we can to make sure you can trust us and our products, including developing our own verification program and maintaining third-party certifications. Furthermore, BPA can be used in the production of flame retardants, fungicides, antioxidants and in PVC production, Oeko-Tex says. Don't use a strong detergent and make sure the washing speed doesn't exceed 600 revolutions per minute. The bottles are collected within 50K of coastlines in countries or areas that lack formal waste or recycling systems, so your brand can play an even bigger role in solving the ocean pollution problem: developing recycling programs in areas where plastic is most at risk of entering a marine environment. In short: yes, its safe to wear clothing, even underwear, made from post-consumer plastic water bottles. REPREVE is an Essential Ingredient in Many Sustainable Products. In short: yes, it's safe to wear clothing, even underwear, made from post-consumer plastic water bottles. Repreve is a specialized recycled polyester, made from sustainably sourced post-consumer plastic water bottles. Its been well-reported that many types of plastics, including water bottles, have chemicals in them that can leach out, especially when water bottles are heated, like if you leave one in your car in the summer. Before diving into the how, lets about the who. Look Sharp In These 10 Perfect Pointed Collar Shirts, How Dressing Weird Became The Ultimate Fashion Flex, The Emrata Approved Trend That Will Be Everywhere This Spring, Milan Fashion Week Is Putting Skinny Pants Back On The Map. Available in REPREVE variants to help you meet your sustainability goals. Repreve fibers are commonly used to make fabrics for athletic and fashion clothing and more. The best casual outfits for guys from South Korea are super stylish, attractive, and comfortable and feature handsome pieces inspired by trendy, modern, and popular Korean aesthetics. The reason brands are recognizing the utility of recycled polyester and leaning into [it], too, is also from customer demand because consumers are [becoming more aware] of [the detrimental impacts] of having plastic in the ocean., Reformations Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Operations Kathleen Talbot adds, Theres no denying that the average consumer has an increased awareness of the global impact of fashion and the culture of waste it fosters. In addition to REPREVE fabrics from recycled materials, Unifi also makes synthetic yarns. Shopping for clothing made out of water bottles is ultimately a small step in the right direction for eco-conscious shoppers and safe to wear if the garment has been tested properly. Girlfriend Collective lists both its SA8000 and STANDARD 100 certification on the about me page while the Tenere site has a detailed page listing all its partners. Take a stronger stand in addressing a problem that is very relevant to your consumer, and build your business with a unique product statement.REPREVE Our Ocean is specially sourced from bottles at high risk of ending up in the ocean-so it deals with a root cause of ocean plastic. More than 20 billion plastic bottles have been used since 2008 to produce Repreve polyester. Most consumers might be surprised to find out that some of their favorite brands are leveraging this sustainable fiber in their latest clothing lines. Many popular fashion brands and designers use Repreve fiber to create their collections. REPREVE is the trusted, branded recycled performance fiber, used to make sustainable textiles with wicking, odor control, water resistance, and more. All content Copyright Unifi, Inc., 2023. Unifi's Knit Cord is a USA-made, Berry compliant high-quality cord that comes packaged on yarn bobbins not loose in boxes. Many ethical fashion brands and designers around the world avoid the use of synthetic fabrics like Repreve completely. Repreve makes three types of recycled yarn: 100% from used plastic bottles, a hybrid of plastic bottles and fiber waste, and a hybrid of plastic bottles and used fabric. Since then, the company has recycled over 34 billion plastic water bottles around the globe in its production of Repreve. Learn about innovative products & business solutions by Unifi. But first things first, let's level set on how Repreve is made. From any point in the supply chain, using their unique FiberPrint tracer technology, they can test the fabric to verify REPREVE is in there, and in the right amounts. REPREVE is the only eco-performance fiber with U TRUST verification to certify recycled content claims. Putting sustainability and innovation together in REPREVE polyester: with high-performing technologies consumers cant live without. Repreve eco-friendly fibers are generally used with digital printing sublimation techniques to craft stylish swimwear and activewear, but also pants, shirts, shorts, jeans, blouses, dresses, jackets, and more. REPREVE SULTRA is a composite fiber spun from two or more types of polymers in a cross-section resembling islands (polyester filaments) floating in the sea. temperature than standard polyester, yielding substantial Her theory was that, as a recycled plastic, rPET fabric contains harmful endocrine-disrupting substances like BPA or phthalates that will interfere with your thyroid function and hormones. I am a freelance fashion writer, working alongside brands and entrepreneurs from the textile and fashion industry, who are walking the path of sustainability. Thats why we created the Champions of Sustainability to spotlight brand, retail, and textile partners who have made significant contributions to diverting plastic bottles from our lands and oceans. The world's trusted guide to sustainable and ethical fashion. Since the increased environmental awareness and concerns for people, animals, and the planet, sustainability has been gaining traction in the fashion industry. 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean annually. Unifi even quantifies the ecological impact its manufacturing has had on the planet. Solutions For Your Business. BPA has been found in Chinese water bottles, and since most polyester is manufactured in Asia (but not all) its possible that your recycled polyester leggings are made from this same type of PET. Thankfully consumer demand and organizational pressures are creating higher environmental standards for the textile and apparel industries. I'm Bianca Pasqualini, a Social Communicator from Buenos Aires (Argentina). We don't know what percentage of ocean microplastics is from fibers versus single-use packaging versus something else, but it is clear that microfibers from our clothing end up in the wastewater, and some of that makes it into the environment, says Mulvihill. Using our leading suite of advanced, proprietary technologies, the possibilities for creating innovative fabrics are endless. Then we take it even further. Apparel brands and mills will purchase Repreve fiber to create their own garments out of the material directly, or craft a unique fabric by weaving additional fibers with Repreve fibers. ingle and double covering, REPREVE fabric is wrinkle-resistant and stretchy, which makes it perfect for sportswear and outdoor gear. The most innovative benefit of Repreve fiber is its sustainability compared to traditional virgin polyester fiber. Since Repreve's sustainability impact often overshadows its performance capabilities, let's first look at what this fabric is good at from a functional standpoint. More than a million plastic bottles are sold around the world each minute. A.M.Y. Built in odor protection ChillSense Instant cool to the touch Cross-section Customizable technology with bounce back and comfort Cotton-like Performance fabric with cotton-like softness Inhibit Flame-retardant Mynx All day UVA/UVB sun protection Reflexx Tags: consumers should always shop with caution and questions. Unifi manufactures Repreve out of recycled plastic fibers made from polyester waste such as plastic bottles. Lastly, it comes soft and virtually broken in, after a single wash and dry. And not all recycling is environmentally friendly. We carefully handpick products from brands we trust. Your customers are craving more sustainable apparel than ever, and your organization will be doing some good for the environment in the process. It's a cost-driven thing. Blending REPREVE with performance technologies means theres no reason to make sacrifices when using sustainable yarn. Other ways to reduce microfiber shedding is to invest in front-loading machines, which are shown to release fewer microfibers than top-loading machines, and to simply wash your clothes on cold water and wash less often. The flakes are then melted and spun into Repreve filament yarn. The type of material does matter hugely when it comes to the environment. The fabric also traps odors, which Popular Science explained in an article. And the plastic industry could account for 20% of the worlds total oil consumption. REPREVE is a performance fiber made from recycled plastic bottles. Thank you so much for buying something through our link, as we may earn a commission that supports us. Even recycled, polyester isn't renewable, biodegradable, or compostable. Available Finishes: Additional Documentation: Pick-A-Print: This Endurance Repreve Recycled Polyester Spandex is perfect for any activewear market! If, after reading this, you prefer natural fibers, there are a few options we rounded up for you. Thanks to Unifis high-quality standards, REPREVE fiber is a strong, durable, and reliable material. Each and every fabric contains FiberPrint, a proprietary tracer technology used to analyze and validate REPREVE fiber content claims and composition. It's a high-quality material with great technical performance. . RELATED ARTICLE: Circulose: The Innovative Circular Cellulose Fabric That You Will Love. Together, we're changing how products are made. Solutions For Your Business, Enhanced services to fit your fiber's every need, Find out how and what is means to get your sustainable material certified, Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, From Asia to the Americas, Unifi's reach is global, Discover The fabric is made with ChillSense and at least 30-percent Repreve, a fiber made from recycled plastic bottles with U TRUST verification to certify recycled content claims.