As part of Unifi’s ongoing commitment to becoming a more sustainable brand, they’re introducing another fabric, REPREVE® recycled denim, into their range! Read on to learn more about REPREVE®, how they’re implementing it into their product mix.
What is REPREVE®?
REPREVE® is a sustainable fibre made completely from recycled materials, including post-consumer water bottles and pre-consumer waste. Since 2009, REPREVE® has transformed over 4 billion plastic bottles into recycled fibres that are spun into polyester yarn and nylon yarn alternatives.
The name ‘REPREVE®’ comes from the word reprieve, meaning to delay an impending punishment or sentence, in this case, referencing the imminent consequences of climate change. This is something REPREVE® and their North Carolina-based parent company Unifi are passionate about combatting: around 70% of plastic bottles end up in landfill in the USA every year, so to be able to transform a portion of those into recycled fabric makes a huge difference to the overall health of the planet!
What makes REPREVE® sustainable?
REPREVE®’s manufacturing process hinges on consumers recycling their PET plastic bottles, as the PET flakes can be transformed into REPREVE®. By making it from solely recycled materials, the manufacture of REPREVE® consumes less energy overall and conserves vital petroleum-based resources by offsetting the need to produce virgin synthetic fibres.
The recycled content used to make REPREVE® is certified by the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) for recycled content claims, ensuring that the entire manufacturing process is traceable. SCS is a leading third-party certifier and standards developer of environmental and sustainability claims that performs a yearly examination of all REPREVE®’s recycled products, including auditing their recycling processes, production records, and manufacturing operations.
REPREVE® has also received the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, the world’s leading label for textiles screened for harmful substances. This certification means that all REPREVE® yarns have been tested for and are free of harmful levels of over 100 restricted chemicals!
The percentage of REPREVE® fibres in any fabric or product can be tested and analysed at any point in the supply chain using REPREVE®’s unique U Trust™ verification program and Fiberprint™ technology. This ensures that any items using their brand name are certified to contain a minimum of 30% REPREVE® fibres by weight of fabric construction.
Why choose REPREVE®?
It iSelecting a sustainable fabric for denim that the recycled fibres were certifiably sustainable is very important. This is something that is equally important to REPREVE®, as their recycled content is audited by a third party, and their U Trust™ verification program ensures that all REPREVE® fabrics are traceable, transparent, and certifiably sustainable.
Quality is also something to take into account when selecting a new sustainable denim fabric. REPREVE® adheres to Unifi’s first-quality standards, meaning that the make-up of the fabric is consistent, and wears and washes well!
Reference: Original Article by – Charlie – What Is REPREVE®? Introducing REPREVE® Recycled Denim to Our Range