And not all recycling is environmentally friendly. Why should you care? As polyester breaks down, it releases toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases into the environment. Our #TurnItGreen mobile tour never fails to wow.. According to the World Wildlife Fund, one plastic bottle takes approximately 450 years to break down and in a study published by Reuters in 2019, almost 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. Repreve Recycled Fabrics Zorb Super Absorbent Waterproof Eco-PUL ProCool One-Way Wicking Bamboo Fabrics On the sustainable side, Repreve reduces landfill waste by turning single-use plastics into apparel. Unifi originally began producing traditional polyester fibers for the apparel industry before inventing Repreve in 2007. Polyester is made from synthetic materials derived from petroleum-based chemicals or petrochemical products. Mechanical recycling means melting the fabric back into a liquid or melting the plastic bottle back into a liquid. The latter method, according to a 2017 Swiss Federal Office for the Environment report, has been used for years in the industry while studies for chemical recycling to make it more accessible are still being conducted. One of REPREVEs main properties is its water resistance. This sustainable alternative to virgin cationic yarns is made with recycled materials, and offers the ability to achieve 100% REPREVE heathers or solids. That means, wherever our customers do businesswe provide high-quality, innovative products with transparency, integrity and consistency. Blending REPREVE with performance technologies means theres no reason to make sacrifices when using sustainable yarn. REPREVE technology is now used by the worlds leading brands, from apparel and footwear to home goods and automakers, such as Ford, which uses it to make car interiors. The fabric also traps odors, which Popular Science explained in an article. To create polyester from crude oil, the oil needs to be refined first. REPREVE SmartDye recycled polyester dyes at a lower For those who are seeking to add a few more pieces to their summer wardrobe and must shop, however, start your purchase journey with the eco-conscious pieces below. Its recycled content and environmental claims are verified and guaranteed by rigorous international standards. 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. It is also eco-friendly because it is not a virgin fiber. ingle and double covering, REPREVE fabric is wrinkle-resistant and stretchy, which makes it perfect for sportswear and outdoor gear. They contribute to the high amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills every year. Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below. After all, youve likely heeded the advice to not reuse single-use plastic bottles over and over they can leach chemicals and harbor bacteria growth so what would, then, make plastic safe to wear on your body. It can be hard to choose your best outfit when visiting another city, especially when it comes to Rome. REPREVE performance combined with trusted sustainability makes a big difference for our future. Is REPREVE fabric waterproof? How to Gain Access. Becoming a part of the circular economy is a proactive way to connect with audiences who care about the lifecycle of the products they purchase. Next, we chop, wash, and melt the bottles at our REPREVE Bottle Processing Center in Reidsville, NC, where theyre transformed into flake and then chip. That means the melted plastic is put through a machine you heat it up and the plastic that went in one side, a flake comes out the other side in a long filament, and that is chopped up into pellets. Get in touch with our team, and let us know how we can help. 2023 Ecocult. Together, we're changing how products are made. Fashion brands are increasingly offering tops, outerwear, shoes, underwear, and even scrunchies made from recycled plastic water bottles. The most significant benefit is Repreve's lower environmental impact. REPREVE recycled materials are certified by Oeko-Tex, GRS and SCS. And all the alternatives are 100% green. We love sustainability so much, we collect our own plastic bottles and feed them into our vertically integrated process to create REPREVE recycled polyester. But first things first, let's level set on how Repreve is made. One of REPREVE's main properties is its water resistance. The technologically-advanced dyeing process offers vibrant, embedded color without using water. No false claims. Our Food Safe fabrics feature a range of vinyls and PULs that are certified safe to handle, package and store food items. 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. The potential to repurpose these water bottles wasnt lost on the fashion industry and with sustainability as an initiative for most brands in 2021 and beyond, the idea of creating clothes from waste has been quickly embraced. The GRS aligns with recycled definitions across multiple applications and follows the ISO 14021 definition, with interpretations based on the United States Federal Trade Commission Green Guides. How to Gain Access Recycled polyester offers many advantages compared to virgin polyester fibers manufactured from the raw material. Unifi produces 300 million pounds of polyester and nylon fabric annually. From plastic to fantastic, innovation starts in the fiber. The fiber is now wound into spools and transformed into yarns through spinning. This means that the making of REPREVE costs less to the planet: In fact, so far the company has saved enough water to supply 2.2 million people with drinking water for a year. Latest news, style trends, outfit ideas, and recommendations. Every year, SCS examines Unifi's recycled products, recycling processes, production records, and manufacturing operations. Once the bottles are fully washed, they are chopped into flakes, which are then melted and extruded into chips. 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. 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 . Vegan Leather Made From Grapes? We collaborated with REPREVE to create this collection of sustainable fabrics made from landfill and ocean-bound plastic bottles. Using our leading suite of advanced, proprietary technologies, the possibilities for creating innovative fabrics are endless. But it is not only sustainable for recycling and giving a second life to single-use plastics. But make sure to avoid common mistakes to preserve its longevity. Repreve's benefits can be categorized by sustainability and performance attributes. REPREVE is made by Unifi, a family of synthetic fibers containing recycled materials. Whereas finishes are always off-gassing, sloughing off, or mixing with your sweat. sustainability And wherever we workwhich can be wherever you choose to do businesswe have the consistent service, flexibility and high-quality, innovative products you demand. More and more fashion brands and retailers use recycled polyester today to create new clothes. 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. Learn about innovative products & business solutions by Unifi. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools. Sustainable clothing is far greater than just the raw materials used to make a garment. The manufacturing of polyester fibers involves the polymerization of synthesized polymers compounds made from oil-derived materials. This debate, that no dose of BPA and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals can ever be safe, has continued to play out since then. It limits pressure on natural resources, reduces waste, pollution, and emissions. Your customers are craving more sustainable apparel than ever, and your organization will be doing some good for the environment in the process. Because endocrine disruptors essentially mimic hormones in a harmful way, leading to thyroid issues, and potentially breast cancer and fertility and developmental issues in children. The study on Chinese water bottles indicated that BPA release at four weeks in 158-degree heat was below EPA standards. REPREVE is the worlds number one brand of recycled performance fiber. REPREVE is the trusted, branded recycled performance fiber, used to make sustainable textiles with wicking, odor control, water resistance, and more. All blend fashion with function when made with REPREVE. Please use the feedack button in the bottom right corner to submit suggestions. Unifi manufactures Repreve out of recycled plastic fibers made from polyester waste such as plastic bottles. Zorb Super Absorbent ProSoft . The multinational clothing-retail company creates luxury fashion for women and men. And the plastic industry could account for 20% of the worlds total oil consumption. Ultimately, polyester can be recycled, recreated, and remolded and become brand new again to create new products without having to use new resources. How products are sourced and madeand where they end upmatter more now than ever before. How are water bottles turned into physical garments and most importantly, is it safe to wear clothing made from plastic water bottles? Moreover, REPREVE performance fiber is the only fiber that has been verified with U TRUST, which is a program created by Unifi itself that certifies recycled content claims through traceable Fiber Print technology. Our REPREVE FoodSAFE PUL fabrics are a proprietary blend of recycled polyester and polyurethane engineered for high performance. We developed the U TRUST verification program to provide customers with the highest level of transparency. In the production of polyester fabric, BPA can be used to create hygroscopic and antistatic fabric with colorfastness to washing. Plastic products like Repreve will be sitting in landfills for up to 500 years before they fully biodegrade. But the global rPET market is declining due to China's waste import ban at the end of 2017. The first place to begin this sustainable journey is looking for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional (and polluting) materials and fabrics. Lucky Textile Mills Limited, a China-based textile mill that has created sustainable fabrics that perform in both hot and cold weather using REPREVE TruTemp365. If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050. 55 million tons of polyester fibers were produced in 2018. Zorb Super Absorbent ProSoft ECO . I can use virgin polyester and make a yarn thats safe, but then really screw it up at the dying stage [with toxic dyes]. He next cites the research I talked about above showing that antimony, which is used to manufacture PET, has leached into the water inside water bottles. 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. Integrity and Consistency, from Sea to Sea. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Together, we're changing how products are made. In the United States alone, 1,500 plastic water bottles are consumed every second while the recycling percentage of PET bottles in the U.S. was 27.9 percent in 2019. This process helps remove contaminants to make sure your fabrics are safe. • Please enter your company's name. 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. From any point in the supply chain and through the life of the product, using our unique FiberPrint tracer technology, we can test your fabrics and products to verify REPREVE is in there, and in the right amounts - to protect what . 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. 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. To answer this question, I turned to Dr. Martin Mulvihill, a trained chemist, researcher, and senior advisor and board member at the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, which he helped create and where he served as the founding initial Executive Director from 2010 to 2015. Raw material sourcing, extraction, and textile fabrication contribute massively to the disastrous environmental impact of fashion. 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. Sure, those are important, but they are also table stakes. If you decide to iron your clothing, select the lowest temperature possible to prevent any damage. 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. Repreve is water-resistant and stain-resistant; it dries quickly and cleans easy. Thats another whole article, but in terms of your health, what really matters is the substances that were put on the material. Lets be honest: if youre in 150-degree heat while wearing your workout clothing, you have bigger problems than your hormones. It's a cost-driven thing. REPREVE offers innovative technologies that help to enhance your products. They also get to see and feel REPREVE-based products made by popular brands. Finally, ever thorough in his answer (I love scientists), Mulvihill said that recycled PET could be contaminated with other plastics that do have endocrine disruptors. Recycled materials are frequently used to create sustainable fashion items and lower the environmental impact of clothing production and consumption. It is also water repellent and wrinkle resistant. technology. *By completing this form you're signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time. The fabric provides moisture-wicking and thermal regulation properties, such as warming and cooling. The Standard verifies recycled content in products to allow consumers to make informed decisions. Every year, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced, as reported by the United Nations. This is certainly an abridged summary of the process, but Repreve in its simplest form is created in four steps. After advanced air-jet texturing and innovative texturing methods, REPREVE yarns are more durable, flexible, and dyeable, providing a longer lifespan and superior performance. Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. If youre looking for some summer outfit inspiration, youve come to the right place. Unifi's U Trust verification program ensures that Repreve recycled fibers are traceable, transparent, and most importantly, certifiably sustainable. This level of achievement is worthy of celebration. 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." Rather than contributing to further demand for oil products that harm the environment, Repreve recycles polyethylene bottles that were previously produced. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is a global service company that certifies, validates, and verifies environmental, sustainability, safety, and quality performance claims. Perfect for comfortable ear loops for standard, surgical and KN95 and N95 respirator masks. Labels from agencies like Oeko-Tex or those under the Textile Exchange nonprofit are more important than ever, in this case, in providing consumers with transparency that a synthetic garment is safe to wear. Consumers are demanding more ethical and ecological alternatives, and brands are answering this urgent call. Look for Oeko-Tex, GOTS, and bluesign labels. To see how we feature current brand partners, follow the link below. They might not, but there is hope. The type of material does matter hugely when it comes to the environment. With the worlds leading, branded recycled fiber, we help you design products that tell an amazing sustainability storytraceable, transparent and certifiably sustainable. Rome is fascinating and romantic. 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. And thats what REPREVE is. Its coming out in June 2023, and it dives deeper into all the chemicals that show up in all sorts of clothingand what you can do to protect yourself. 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. 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