Consumers are demanding more ethical and ecological alternatives, and brands are answering this urgent call. Repreve is a specialized recycled polyester, made from sustainably sourced post-consumer plastic water bottles. This sustainable, versatile yarn features an exceptionally high surface area and offers very soft, luxurious hand with a silken or suede touch in a range of aesthetics. In addition to its Greensboro headquarters, the company operates recycling and manufacturing facilities in . 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. No false claims. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Repreve polyester fiber can be used alone to create finished recycled fabrics or blended with other types of fibers. 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 . How are water bottles turned into physical garments and most importantly, is it safe to wear clothing made from plastic water bottles? Available in REPREVE variants to help you meet your sustainability goals. The fabric provides moisture-wicking and thermal regulation properties, such as warming and cooling. The Repreve manufacturing process begins with the collection of PET plastic bottles. Look for Oeko-Tex, GOTS, and bluesign labels. But, It is important to recognize that terephthalates are not suspected to be endocrine disruptors in the same way that ortho-phthalates are, Mulvihill said. Zorb Super Absorbent ProSoft ECO . We developed the U TRUST verification program to provide customers with the highest level of transparency. But what is more shocking than that, is that these same bottles can be turned into actual, wearable fabric. TOMORROW-FRIENDLY. Synthetic fabrics often used Repreve polyester in blends of various materials, with elastane (spandex), nylon, or natural fibers, which makes recycling difficult, not commercially viable, even impossible in some cases. It represents 52 % of global fiber production. But you might have bigger things to worry about than even the polyester. Or, another type of certification is the STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex, which tests the final product, from thread to buttons, for harmful substances and states the item is innocuous for human health. From a sustainability standpoint, its a brilliant use of material, the repurposing of plastic and [having that] be converted into apparel versus making more virgin plastic says Saskia Van Gendt, head of sustainability at footwear and accessories label Rothys. The material is very flexible and often blended with elastane or spandex to make it even more elastic. REPREVE performance combined with trusted sustainability makes a big difference for our future. The sacrificial polymer dissolves and results in ultra-micro dpf as low as 0.06. Brave the wilderness with coats made from 100% recycled materials. Yes, it is. Car seats, steering wheels and more are upgraded with durable fabric made from 100% recycled materials. Theres always something that you add in to make it more resistant to UV or more resistant to heat or more resistant to a lot of different things., Recently, the Center for Environmental Health in California found BPA in socks from 88 different brands. Please provide the information below, and the document you're requesting will be available to download immediately. Thats another whole article, but in terms of your health, what really matters is the substances that were put on the material. How to Gain Access Use it to make almost anything sustainable, with filament, staple fiber and fiber fill products. This debate, that no dose of BPA and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals can ever be safe, has continued to play out since then. More investment and technology are needed to make bioplastics an abundant and affordable option for clothing manufacturers. The innovative polyester fiber reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water, and energy consumption. They make high-quality recycled polyester fabrics out of post-consumer waste materials. In this way, Unifi protects both brands and REPREVE technology for what they stand for. They are also certified and traceable. We source bottles across the globe in partnership with communities and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). You want to make sure your suppliers are truly buying post-consumer materials and the GRS certification process goes through the supply chain to make sure theyre coming from recycled products, says Kimberley Smith, chief supply chain officer at Everlane. To see how we feature current brand partners, follow the link below. This is because Repreve is an incredibly sustainable option that helps reduce the environmental impact of textile manufacturing. ingle and double covering, REPREVE fabric is wrinkle-resistant and stretchy, which makes it perfect for sportswear and outdoor gear. CEH specified that the common denominator was polyester contentcotton socks were fine. Rather than contributing to further demand for oil products that harm the environment, Repreve recycles polyethylene bottles that were previously produced. Another great aspect about REPREVE yarns is that it comes in many forms. temperature than standard polyester, yielding substantial Visitors discover how bottles are transformed into performance fibers. Since then, the company has recycled over 34 billion plastic water bottles around the globe in its production of Repreve. Blending REPREVE with performance technologies means theres no reason to make sacrifices when using sustainable yarn. Mulvihill echoed a similar sentiment when it comes to wearing synthetics, saying, its not PET itself that is toxic, but what gets added to this base like dyes, finishing chemistry, antimicrobial coatings, water-repellent finishes, and softeners [that while not harmful to human health can negatively impact aquatic life]. Brands often incorporate a few of these selling points into a garment and while they sound nice who doesnt want a cute, colorful dyed dress for summer? Polyester is made from synthetic materials derived from petroleum-based chemicals or petrochemical products. We created the REPREVE brand to foster a sustainable world by diverting plastic bottlesbillions of themfrom landfills and oceans. Repreves recycled content and manufacturing processes are also certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) a trusted third party in the environmental space. Ultimately, polyester can be recycled, recreated, and remolded and become brand new again to create new products without having to use new resources. Job Title *. 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). All content Copyright Unifi, Inc., 2023. H&M, New Balance, Nike, Patagonia, and many other global fashion brands use Repreve. According to Oeko-Tex, BPA can be added in the manufacturing of polyester as an intermediary step to improve the natural properties and lifespan of a fabric. Soon after, Unifi began sourcing consumer plastic water bottles to be used in the process, which had profound ecological benefits. Chips are then melted and extruded through spinning to form long filaments of Repreve polyester fiber. The flakes are then melted and spun into Repreve filament yarn. The fabric also traps odors, which Popular Science explained in an article. Repreve is a 100% recycled polyester fiber manufactured by the brand Unifi. The U TRUST verification program is a comprehensive certification program designed to provide customers using REPREVE with the highest level of transparency. Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. Using recycled fibers like Repreve for clothing reduces fashion's impact. It extends the life of your clothes and the time you can wear them. Were not on a climate countdown. They contribute to the high amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills every year. This process helps remove contaminants to make sure your fabrics are safe. It is also water repellent and wrinkle resistant. Repreve is a polyester fiber that is shipped to textile manufacturers making fabrics for the apparel industry. 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. ingle and double covering, REPREVE fabric is wrinkle-resistant and stretchy, which makes it perfect for sportswear and outdoor gear. They plan to reach 30 billion bottles used for recycled fiber production by 2022. Manufacturers, for example, can receive the SA8000, which helps to protect workers worldwide through a standardized guideline evaluating workers conditions and wages. 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. It certifies high product safety.If a textile bears the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, customers can be sure that every component has been tested for harmful substances and the product is therefore harmless to the human environment. energy savings and reducing cycle time without compromising your fabric's performance. REPREVE recycled materials are certified by Oeko-Tex, GRS and SCS. REPREVE is now ready to be shipped to customers and transformed into quality, durable apparel, home goods, footwear, and even used by the automotive industry. Someone from our Sales Team will be in touch soon to assist you further with your interest in Unifi. . Pack comfortable yet stylish clothes to look your best while exploring South Korea.Korean people pay special attention to their appearance. Thats because the research shows that it takes 38 days of a water bottle being heated to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for antimony to reach unsafe levels, and that is for water that you ingest, not fabric against your skin. Don't use a strong detergent and make sure the washing speed doesn't exceed 600 revolutions per minute. We take yesterdays waste and give it a second life as sustainable fiber. But thats not all. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. REPREVE has become the most recognizable brand for recycled fiber because unlike other recycled yarns it is certified by an outside party. REPREVE fabric is made by Unifi, a leading global textile producer that offers technology-driven solutions to labels from all around the world. Yes, REPREVE is a reliable and very durable fabric. Polyester is the most widely used fiber worldwide. Here are the primary ways it compares to virgin polyester. Solutions For Your Business. If you prefer nylon and polyester, make sure to check out our roundup of sustainable athletic brands, many of which are completely non-toxic. Our tests showed that our wash bags reduce the release of microfibers by 65 percent, reveals Van Gendt. Available in polyester and nylon for greater comfort and options. Is REPREVE fabric stretchy? Please use the feedack button in the bottom right corner to submit suggestions. It partners with a recycling facility in Taiwan to obtain the pellets that are then taken to Girlfriends own spinning mill where yarn is produced. REPREVE Our Ocean is an option for your brand to tell an ocean-focused story, or stand specifically for the good of our oceans. REPREVE offers innovative technologies that help to enhance your products. 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. 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. 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." With the worlds leading, branded recycled fiber, we help you design products that tell an amazing sustainability storytraceable, transparent and certifiably sustainable. REPREVE recycled materials are certified by Oeko-Tex, GRS and SCS. Repreve polyester is just as strong and durable as virgin polyester. REPREVE is the trusted, branded recycled performance fiber, used to make sustainable textiles with wicking, odor control, water resistance, and more. From the chemical standpoint, its not about is this material good or bad, its about consumers being able to know and easily identify if the brand has [done its due diligence] in testing the product for harmful substances and the easy way for them to know is to have a credible third party label on it.. All Rights Reserved. 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. And the number of bottles sold yearly will increase to 583.3 billion in 2021, according to Euromonitor. | So far, the company has managed to recycle more than 31 billion plastic bottles and the counter keeps going up every second! Repreve & ReInspire Recycled Fabrics Collection. Integrity and Consistency, from Sea to Sea. Can't find what you're looking for? The global textile and apparel industry isone of thelargest polluter globally. As you source any sort of activewear or athletic apparel that relies heavily on polyester, explore your options for recycled polyester or at least other recycled clothing options. Its a heavy metal and suspected carcinogen, though not an endocrine disruptor. 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 Thankfully consumer demand and organizational pressures are creating higher environmental standards for the textile and apparel industries. The bottles are collected from recycling plants. RELATED ARTICLE: AMNI Soul Eco: All You Need To Know About The Sustainable Nylon Fabric. All content Copyright Unifi, Inc., 2023. Meet The Eco-Friendly Vegea, Sustainable Style: An Interview with Instagram Fashion Influencer Jelena Simeonov, 21 Types Of Fashion Styles You Can Wear In 2023. Other companies that are using REPREVE are outerwear brand Patagonia; surfwear labels Quiksilver and Roxy; as well as fashion apparel brands Guess, Aeropostale, Volcom, and Planks Clothing, among others. Through strategically located partners and ventures, we source, manufacture, consult and sell in locations around the world, from China to the Americas. So, what is Repreve fabric? Sure, those are important, but they are also table stakes. To help take your products further. Made Like No OtherFrom Recycled Plastic Bottles. Furthermore, BPA can be used in the production of flame retardants, fungicides, antioxidants and in PVC production, Oeko-Tex says. Unifi turns plastic drinking bottles and their white lids into recycled polyester that then goes into outdoor, active apparel, and beyond. Take a look at just a short list of the leading brands that rely on Unifi and their innovative Repreve product: As you can see, there are several brands - both small and large - that are already using Repreve fabric in their clothing lines. Eco-conscious shoppers should, ideally, be able to find these certifications on a brands website. 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. Recycling plastic also consumes lots of chemicals, energy, and water. 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. Sustainable clothing is far greater than just the raw materials used to make a garment. 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. Each profile can include the brand's story, featured products, lifestyle images, and videos. 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. From an environmental perspective, the rPET is a good thing, but we need to make sure it isnt coated with harmful chemicals or antimicrobials before we declare it a good option for human health.. Repreve Recycled Fabrics Zorb Super Absorbent Waterproof Eco-PUL ProCool One-Way Wicking Bamboo Fabrics Fifteen billion plastic bottles recycled and counting. Repreve is made by Unifi, a manufacturer of specialty synthetic yarns that's been creating textiles for over 50 years. Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below. Our #TurnItGreen mobile tour never fails to wow.. We collaborated with REPREVE to create this collection of sustainable fabrics made from landfill and ocean-bound plastic bottles. Every year, SCS examines Unifi's recycled products, recycling processes, production records, and manufacturing operations. Among todays innovative solutions we can find REPREVE fabric. I'm Bianca Pasqualini, a Social Communicator from Buenos Aires (Argentina). REPREVE is an eco-smart solution for brands and businesses who want to replace the use of conventional fabrics for sustainable alternatives. 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