US' Unifi announces Repreve Champions of Sustainability award winners

Nike and Target both reached a major milestone this year, each having transformed more than two billion recycled plastic bottles through the use of Repreve fibre. Polartec, Walmart and Texhong have each transformed more than one billion bottles. This year’s recipients have helped turn a combined total of nearly 14 billion recycled plastic bottles into more sustainable products, Unifi said in a media statement.

Unifi’s Repreve Champions of Sustainability awards will be presented to 39 brand and retail partners that have transformed ten million or more recycled plastic bottles and 53 textile partners that have transformed 50 million or more recycled plastic bottles through the use of Repreve performance fibres.

Unifi is also recognising some special category award winners. Mavi, a Turkey-based international apparel brand with a strong reputation as a leader in the denim market and a focus on sustainability, got the special recognition award.

Jiaxing Xinran Textile, a China-based company that has incorporated Repreve in spandex-covered yarns, got the newcomer award. Lucky Textile Mills, a China-based textile mill that has created sustainable fabrics that perform in both hot and cold weather using Repreve TruTemp365, got the partner in innovation award.

“We are thrilled to announce the 2022 Repreve Champions of Sustainability. We applaud the demonstrated commitment to sustainability, which has allowed us to recycle more than 30 billion bottles to date,” Eddie Ingle, chief executive officer of Unifi, said in a statement.

“As a leading global denim brand, Mavi demonstrates Repreve’s global reach. Consumers now expect brands to make products responsibly, which Mavi has capitalised on through their focus on sustainability. Jiaxing Xinran Textile is a deserving winner of the newcomer award, while we chose Lucky Textile Mills Limited as the recipient of the partner in innovation award for their use of Repreve TruTemp365 in their performance products,” Bev Sylvester, vice president of marketing and communications at Unifi, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)