Unifi Inc., an innovator and manufacturer of recycled and synthetic yarns, has announced the winners of its Repreve Champions of Sustainability awards.
The awards recognize brand, textile and retail partners that have demonstrated their commitment to supporting a sustainable world. In its fourth year, a total of 93 companies are being recognized as Repreve Champions of Sustainability, the most ever in the program’s history.
This year, Walmart and H&M have each transformed more than a half billion bottles through their use of Repreve, while VF Corp. and Levi Strauss & Co. have both now converted more than 200 million.
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Unifi remains successful because of its customers,” Unifi CEO Eddie Ingle said. “With a nearly 20 percent increase in the number of winners from the previous year, our brand partners are demonstrating a steadfast commitment to sustainability. We want to thank them for their support for a more sustainable world during these unparalleled times.”
Jay Hertwig, senior vice president of commercialization at Unifi, said the pandemic brought to light the fact that sustainability and taking steps toward a greener tomorrow are more important than ever.
Repeve Champions of Sustainability will be awarded to 38 brand and retail partners that have transformed 10 million or more recycled plastic bottles and 55 textile partners that have transformed 50 million or more recycled plastic bottles through the use of Repreve performance fibers. In addition to the 98 bottle-based awards, Unifi is also recognizing three special category award winners: Repreve Newcomer, Repreve Partners in Innovation and Repreve Leading the Change.
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“Odlo has shown a commitment to sustainability by switching to Repreve within the last year and could not be more deserving of the Newcomer Award,” Hertwig said, noting the European performance apparel brand. “We chose Penti, a leading Turkish retailer as the recipient of the Repreve Leading the Change award for its efforts to promote sustainability across its clothing line and stores. We hope these awards and the program as a whole inspire more brands and retailers to expand their sustainability goals by choosing Repreve.”
Repreve Champions of Sustainability Brand & Retailer Bottle Awards were given to Aeropostale, Buff, Culp Home Fashions, Decathlon, Deckers, Ford, Gildan, Haggar, Hanesbrands, Haworth, H&M, Inditex, J.C. Penney, Jordache, Kate Spade New York, Levi Strauss, Lindex, Lovesac, Lucky Textiles, Momentum, Nike, Odlo, OKAIDI, Old Navy/Gap, Patagonia, Piping Hot, Polartec, PVH, Quiksilver, Target, Target Australia, Tesco, The North Face, Under Armour, VF, Volcom, Walmart and WSI.
Textile Partner Bottle Awards were bestowed on Anhui Xintiansi, Antex Knitting, AYM Syntex Limited, Clarotex, Shanghai Challenge, Copen, Darlington, Dongguan Deyongjia, Duvaltex, Elevate Textiles, Material, Hamrick Mills, Handzhou Xiaoyuan, Hornwood Inc., Intradeco, Inmobiliaria, Apopa, Jiangyin Changjiang, Jiangyin Chulan, Jiangyin Fubo, Jiaxing Lichao, Kipas, Kucukcalik, MAS Fabrics, Merinos Hali San. VE TIC.A.S, Milliken & Company, Nanjing Haixinlining, Nantong Dafuhao, Ningbo Huayao, Ningbo Shnezhou, Pettenati, Pride Performance Fabrics, Saehan, Sage Automotive Interiors, Shandong Daiyin, Shandong Hongye, Shanghai Challenge Textile, Shuford Yarns LLC, Sichuan Jinhui, Snyder Enterprises Inc., Suzhou Yunmei, Swisstex Direct LLC, Sri Rejeki, Tah Tah Textile, Textufil S.A., Texpasa USA LLC, Texhong, Tuntex, Valdese Weavers, Worldon, Wujiang Zhonglian, Wuxi Changjiang, Yuanwen and Zhangjiagang Tongfeng.