UNIFI launches globally available circular polyester products made from textile waste

“Polyester is the most widely utilized fiber on the planet, and it’s time for transformative change,” said Eddie Ingle, Chief Executive Officer of UNIFI, Inc. “Textile brands can now create solutions with the entire product life cycle in mind and work towards achieving their 2030 environmentally preferred materials targets. Our goal is to provide the best-in-class sustainable products that eliminate the need for virgin materials and reduce carbon emissions.”

Made from 100%* recycled polyester feedstock, with at least 50% textile waste, the two new products both achieve virgin-quality standards. The Textile Takeback™ process recycles both global post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste into next-generation materials using proprietary technologies. Further enhancing value throughout the supply chain, UNIFI will also partner with global brands to take back their waste and keep materials in circulation longer.

With widespread versatility across industries, applications, and colorways, the new circular REPREVE filament yarn is a white, dyeable, high-performance polyester that is designed for the most critical applications. The circular REPREVE polyester line, which also includes black filament yarn and black and white staple fiber, contains the inherent FiberPrint® tracer technology, meaning that all products can gain U-Trust® certification.

ThermaLoop™ insulation, available in down-like fiber, fiberball, and padding, offers performance, recovery, and thermal efficiency. The padding is engineered with REPREVE low melt fiber, a pioneering innovation that enables the production of 100%* recycled synthetic padding. Driven by UNIFI’s ‘waste nothing’ philosophy, ThermaLoop’s launch in black insulation showcases the wide variety of textile waste that can be utilized as feedstock.

The two new products are both available globally now, and can be integrated seamlessly into existing supply chains, without disruption. This commercial scalability tackles a key challenge for polyester-reliant industries, particularly fashion brands, which have long sought to create circular apparel to meet sustainability goals. These products underpin UNIFI’s goal to recycle 1.5 billion T-shirts’ worth of textile waste by fiscal year 2030.