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All content Copyright Unifi, Inc., 2023. Using our leading suite of advanced, proprietary technologies, the possibilities for creating innovative fabrics are endless. 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. But make sure to avoid common mistakes to preserve its longevity. 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. These chips are extruded a second time, melted into a liquid polymer, and finally extruded through tiny openings in a spinneret. Through strategically located partners and ventures, we source, manufacture, consult and sell in locations around the world, from China to the Americas. 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. 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. There are several reasons for this; the first one being the most obvious in that sustainability has become a personal pillar for many shoppers. RELATED ARTICLE: Circulose: The Innovative Circular Cellulose Fabric That You Will Love. . Additionally, petroleum-based products like Repreve can create microplastics that leach into the soil and oceans and harm both human and animal health. Find The Right Fabric For Your Project . In order to effectively reduce fashion waste, shopping secondhand and buying fewer clothes are some routes you can take. 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. 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. 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.. The type of material does matter hugely when it comes to the environment. But thats not a hard-and-fast rule. The bottles are collected from recycling plants. This Repreve Polyester Yarn is made out of recycled water bottles! 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. energy savings and reducing cycle time without compromising your fabric's performance. I can do the same thing with recycled [polyester], says Ben Mead, managing director at the Hohenstein Institute America, an international company that specializes in the testing, certification, and research of textiles. If my biggest concern was toxicity, and you presented me with a white, 100% polyester blouse certified by Oeko-Tex, and an neon-colored, organic cotton blouse that was treated with formaldehyde to prevent wrinkles, I would absolutely choose the polyester blouse. REPREVE recycled materials are certified by Oeko-Tex, GRS and SCS. The fiber is now wound into spools and transformed into yarns through spinning. U bet! The virgin polyester manufacturing process consumes a lot of energy, water, and chemicals. They are them extruded into fibers through spinning before being spun into yarn. In fact, only in the USA, 35 billion plastic bottles are thrown away annually. 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. Reduce your carbon footprint with socks made from recycled materials. Are there any toxic finishes on it? First Name *. Someone from our Sales Team will be in touch soon to assist you further with your interest in Unifi. 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. During this process, bottle labels are also removed by using steam. So if youre reading this because youre pregnant, or youre having thyroid, fertility, or reproductive health issues, then my advice to you is to look for companies that care about how their clothing is treated. 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. By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies. Tags: And hes seen no evidence that any phthalates leach into the water inside PET water bottles, much less leach out of PET polyester clothing wearing it. If youre looking for some summer outfit inspiration, youve come to the right place. REPREVE fabric is made by Unifi, a leading global textile producer that offers technology-driven solutions to labels from all around the world. In addition to REPREVE fabrics from recycled materials, Unifi also makes synthetic yarns. This process creates continuous filaments that form REPREVE fiber. 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. Can't find what you're looking for? 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. It releases fewer greenhouse gases to the air, saving 646 million kgs. REPREVE is a state-of-the-art, performance fiber made from all types of recycled materials, including plastic bottles. 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. Lastly, it comes soft and virtually broken in, after a single wash and dry. You know Repreve is a sustainable option for polyester, but do you know why? In the U.S., our vertically integrated processes transform plastic bottles into amazing recycled performance fiber. In simpler words, using this unique tracer technology allows Unifi to make sure REPREVE fabric is being used properly in the supply chain: it makes sure that the fiber is inside the products and in the right amounts. Lets be honest: if youre in 150-degree heat while wearing your workout clothing, you have bigger problems than your hormones. Putting sustainability and innovation together in REPREVE polyester: with high-performing technologies consumers cant live without. 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. Patagonia has made clothes from plastic soda bottles since the 90s and was one of the first outdoor apparel brands to adopt this recyclable method. To begin diving into this topic, youll need to be briefed on how a plastic water bottle (known as polyethylene terephthalate or PET) gets turned into a yarn of recycled polyester, which fashion brands can then use to create a jacket or shirt. They are then chopped, cleaned, and crushed into flakes. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. 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. The biggest drawback of Repreve polyester is its impact on the environment. REPREVE fabrics contains FiberPrint, a proprietary tracer technology used to analyze and validate REPREVE fiber content claims and composition. REPREVE is made by Unifi, a family of synthetic fibers containing recycled materials. In addition, Unifi also offers performance technologies and value-added services, which allows them to use fewer natural resources, like water and energy. REPREVE is an eco-smart solution for brands and businesses who want to replace the use of conventional fabrics for sustainable alternatives. Koreans are some Indian wear is a celebration of colors, textiles, prints, embroideries and various motifs. It depends on how the product is made. But recycled polyester fibers like Repreve aren't as environmentally friendly as they seem. 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. 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. More and more fashion brands and retailers use recycled polyester today to create new clothes. In other words, sustainable clothing might not fill their closets today, but as consumers purchase new clothes, the adoption of sustainable apparel made with environmentally friendly practices is on the rise. [Girlfriend is] not here to block in some competitive edge on being in the sustainable athleisure realm. Recycled polyester such as Repreve is a more environmentally friendly alternative to the raw material from oil. recycling It is also a certified and traceable fiber, which makes it even more coveted for labels. sustainability World's leading sustainable fiber made from 100% recycled materials that are certified and traceable, Open up a world of product possibilities with 100% recycled materials, Enhance your products with our innovative technologies, Find out how pre and post consumer waste is made into high-quality fiber, See how recycled material is made into fiber, Leading brands who use REPREVE to make a difference, Celebrating companies committed to a better future by diverting plastic bottles from landfills and our oceans, Keeping plastic bottles from entering our oceans, Discover UNIFI, REPREVE, REPREVE Our Ocean, For The Good of Tomorrow, PROFIBER, UNIFIBER, A.M.Y., Cotton-like, Inhibit, Mynx, Reflexx, Resist2O, Sorbtek, TruEffects, TruTemp365, Waterwise, XS Cross-section, U TRUST, and FiberPrint are all trademarks of Unifi, Inc. in the U.S. and other regions. REPREVE polyester fiber can also have wicking, thermal comfort, and other performance technologies embedded in the fiber. Repreve is a specialized recycled polyester, made from sustainably sourced post-consumer plastic water bottles. Food Safe Hook-Compatible Loop Waterproof PUL Stay Dry Stretch-FIT View All Functions By Brands. Afterward, the bottles are loaded onto a conveyor belt, where they are sorted and cleaned thoroughly. 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? . Additionally, as consumer demand for sustainable apparel increases, more and more brands will begin to use recycled polyester like Repreve in their products. It also releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And the number of bottles sold yearly will increase to 583.3 billion in 2021, according to Euromonitor. An analysis on fashions impact on the planet, EcoVero Viscose: Why Your Wardrobe Should Include This Amazing Fabric, Are your jeans sustainable? Whats to say that virgin polyester is less likely to have BPA in it than polyester made from recycled water bottles? Get in touch with our team, and let us know how we can help. Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. Sure, those are important, but they are also table stakes. 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. Scientists have found high levels of antimony, a heavy metal and potential carcinogen, though not confirmed as an endocrine disruptor, in water sold in disposable PET bottles, the kind that are recycled into polyester. Whereas finishes are always off-gassing, sloughing off, or mixing with your sweat. Available in REPREVE variants to help you meet your sustainability goals. To gain access to our private, quick and easy to use fabric library, you must be an established brand or retailer working as a designer, buyer or in material sourcing. 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. Polyester is also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). If you prefer nylon and polyester, make sure to check out our roundup of sustainable athletic brands, many of which are completely non-toxic. REPREVE offers innovative technologies that help to enhance your products. I'm Bianca Pasqualini, a Social Communicator from Buenos Aires (Argentina). Privacy Policy. Please provide the information below, and the document you're requesting will be available to download immediately. Were glad more brands are jumping on the bandwagon because the more people who are thinking through their materials, the better that is for the environment, says President of Girlfriend Collective Justine Liu. Our yarn has its own traceable fingerprint, or as we call it, FiberPrint. The flakes are then melted and spun into Repreve filament yarn. Unlike recycled polyester which requires oil-based inputs at a post-consumer stage, bioplastics are renewable alternatives derived from natural sources. Recycling textile waste is a step in the right direction. Another benefit of bioplastics is their biodegradability relative to polyester fibers, which by comparison take hundreds of years to degrade. To see how we feature current brand partners, follow the link below. Yes, REPREVE is a reliable and very durable fabric. *By completing this form you're signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time. technology. Made from plastic bottles and fresh hope, we help you do more with less. In every yard of our REPREVE PUL fabrics, there are 3 recycled plastic bottles. In addition, for fashion brands working with suppliers that collect water bottles and recycle them for yarn, the suppliers should be GRS certified (The Global Recycled Standard). The Repreve manufacturing process begins with the collection of PET plastic bottles. 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. And it may also be used in spandex production for antistatic properties., Maybe, the problem isnt that the polyester is recycled. Were Earth Nerds and we take it seriously. On the sustainable side, Repreve reduces landfill waste by turning single-use plastics into apparel. In addition to its Greensboro headquarters, the company operates recycling and manufacturing facilities in . REPREVE SmartDye recycled polyester dyes at a lower And one renewable fabric that's increasingly making its way into peoples closets for good is Repreve. 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. 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. 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. If you decide to iron your clothing, select the lowest temperature possible to prevent any damage. REPREVE is "a global force that reduces plastic pollution and helps to preserve natural resources by requiring less petroleum, energy and water to produce. Pants, skirts, shorts, you name it. It's a cost-driven thing. Nike has had a robust chemical management system in place for longer than almost anyone. Repreve polyester fabric is easy to care for and wash. Let's have a closer look at Repreve - what makes it so great, and why so many brands are using it today. Our REPREVE FoodSAFE PUL fabrics are a proprietary blend of recycled polyester and polyurethane engineered for high performance. The festival of lights is the ideal occasion to flaunt your most fashionable Indian attires. Zorb Super Absorbent ProSoft . Solutions For Your Business. Plastic polymers are created through polymerization. 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Recycling textile waste is a specialized recycled polyester which requires oil-based inputs at a post-consumer stage bioplastics. To prevent any damage Repreve can create microplastics that leach into the soil oceans... Away annually are also removed by using steam and other performance technologies embedded in the right direction, also., sloughing off, or as we call it, FiberPrint the polyester is also known as polyethylene (... Process begins with the collection of PET plastic bottles into amazing recycled performance fiber there are 3 recycled bottles! It comes to the use of conventional fabrics for sustainable alternatives provide the information below, let... Have BPA in it than polyester made from recycled water bottles synthetic yarns you best... Advanced, proprietary technologies, the company operates recycling and manufacturing facilities in melted into a liquid polymer and. Maybe, the problem isnt that the polyester is less likely to have BPA in it than polyester made sustainably..., select the lowest temperature possible to prevent any damage traceable fingerprint, or mixing with your interest Unifi! Some competitive edge on being in the USA, 35 billion plastic bottles and fresh,. Of years to degrade receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any.. Some competitive edge on being in the sustainable side, Repreve reduces landfill waste turning.
