Latest news with #EddieIngle
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside Unifi's Textile-to-Textile Recycling Operation
At recycled fiber producer Unifi's facility in Yadkinville, North Carolina, workers pile hundreds of discarded garments onto a massive conveyor belt. As the belt lurches forward, mounds of old polyester shirts, sports jerseys, socks and other items cascade into a machine that will begin the process of converting them into new Repreve yarns. Unifi launched its Textile Takeback program in 2022 with the goal of expanding its operation beyond plastic bottle recycling to textile-to-textile recycling produce its signature Repreve recycled fiber. Last year, the company announced it would scale the program with an ambitious goal: recycling 1.5 billion T-shirts' worth of textile and yarn waste by 2030. More from Sourcing Journal The Mirum Moto Jacket is the Fruit of Another Tomorrow's Graveyard Diligence Taking Recycling Rules to the Next (Federal) Level How Fashion for Good is Addressing Apparel's Post-Production Impact 'We've created a textile-to-textile system that actually works, and it's available globally,' said Unifi CEO Eddie Ingle. 'Our Takeback process keeps materials in circulation longer, and it conserves resources—these products are made from waste materials, replacing virgin petrochemical inputs.' In theory, textile-to-textile recycling has the potential to revolutionize the way garment waste is managed on a global scale. But in practice, the process has proven rather complicated for a number of reasons. Synthetic textile-to-textile recycling relies on materials that can be melted down, so blends incorporating natural fibers such as cotton or viscose aren't easily recyclable, and dyes and finishes also can make it difficult to recycle some items. And beyond those technical limitations, the lack of built-in infrastructure for post-consumer garment collection and sorting such as that in existence for plastic bottles makes acquiring recyclable clothing more challenging. That aspect contributed to the downfall of cotton textile-to-textile recycler Renewcell, which declared bankruptcy and re-emerged last year under a new owner and moniker, Circulose. Unifi sources its garment waste from a number of places, much of it post-industrial waste such as cut-and-sew scraps from Southeast Asia factories, as well as misprint returns and pieces such as marathon shirts from races that never occurred due to Covid. The garment waste is then sorted in Unifi's facilities (the company has operations around the globe) and filtered based on parameters such as color and material. The pieces are then fed into the company's proprietary thermal mechanical recycling process. Ingle says the process was developed to solve some of the problems that have hampered textile-to-textile recycling in the past. 'This process has to solve four key challenges in our industry—filtration, color, quality and traceability,' he said. 'Our proprietary systems for high-volume grading, purification and strengthening protect the molecular integrity of the polyester while leveraging the efficiencies of thermo mechanical recycling. That ensures the consistency and quality of the products we make, and it also can enhance the physical properties of our products.' After being sorted and filtered, garment waste travels down that conveyor belt into a machine that will shred it. Those pieces then get melted down and eventually combined with recycled bottle plastic to create new Repreve yarns. Unifi conducts lifecycle assessments (LCA) of all of its products, including Takeback fibers and yarns, to provide data to partners on carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, freshwater use and other sustainability targets. And like bottle-based Repreve fibers, Takeback incorporates Unifi's fiber trace technology to ensure full traceability of products made with the material. 'Our data is really important for brands and companies to be able to quantify the environmental impact of their own products,' said Jordan Feigh, sustainability and product stewardship manager, Unifi. 'We are a global manufacturer, so we have to take into account different areas and their limitations—for instance, the Vietnam energy grid may be different than the United States, which may be different from Central America. So rather than looking at an LCA on a very broad scale, we've drilled down to five different supply chains to assess our products globally.' That data becomes particularly useful when comparing virgin fibers versus Takeback, both from an environmental and a quality standpoint. 'What we're trying to look at with these LCAs is how does Repreve compare against virgin?' Feigh said. 'Obviously if recycled is not on the same level or better than virgin, then no one's going to use it. So we need to actually prove that.' While the Takeback program is growing, for Unifi to meet its 1.5 billion T-shirts' worth by 2030 goal, Ingle said buy-in not only from brands but also consumers will be essential. Some of that is starting to happen, with Unifi partner Haggar now producing men's pants designed to be fully recyclable, including their buttons and zippers. Ingle said steps like these will propel this technology forward and allow textile-to-textile recycling to reach the same scale as post-consumer PET fiber production. 'If we learned anything from our bottle recycling experience, it's that demand will grow,' he said. 'People want to be more sustainable. But while circularity can be seen as a commercial burden, especially in the short-term, we believe it's an opportunity for the early adopters to get ahead of the message. It's the right thing to do.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unifi Launches Yarn for Tactical Applications
Unifi, maker of Repreve recycled yarns, has launched a new yarn designed for the rigors of tactical and military use. Dubbed Fortisyn, the abrasion-resistant yarn is engineered with enhanced tear and tensile strength to make it durable enough for military and first-responder uniforms and tactical gear. Fortisyn is available in nylon 6,6 and Repreve nylon—a recycled type 6 circular nylon made from post-industrial yarn waste. The fiber is solution-dyed for colorfastness, and Fortisyn made with Repreve nylon is fully traceable with Unifi's FiberPrint technology. The yarn made with Repreve nylon also has certifications from U-Trust, Oeko-Tex, GRS and SCS for recycled content. More from Sourcing Journal Trump Says Houthis Will Cease Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Trump Says US Ships Should Travel Panama, Suez Canals for Free If You Build It, Will They Come? How Material Innovators Decide Where to Break Commercial Ground. 'In collaboration with mills and strategic partners, Fortisyn has undergone rigorous fabric testing to validate its exceptional performance,' said Eddie Ingle, CEO of Unifi. 'The launch marks a step forward in the scaling of recycled, circular technology yarns into the most durable applications.' The Fortisyn launch comes on the heels of the North Carolina-based post-consumer plastic recycler and synthetic yarn maker's introduction of Repreve Takeback, which is made of 100-percent recycled materials, half of which come from post-consumer and post-industrial textile waste. Earlier this year, Unifi also introduced a new circular thermal insulation product called Thermaloop—a down-like fiber made with 100-percent recycled materials, including at least 50-percent textile waste. Fortisyn is available in made-the-U.S.A. applications for Berry Amendment compliance, which requires military uniforms and gear to be made domestically. Unifi officially launches Fortisyn yarn this week at Techtextil North America on May 6-8, in booth 4241 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Fashion United
07-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Repreve maker Unifi launches extremely durable recycled yarn Fortisyn
The problem with recycled yarns and fabrics, for many, is the assumption that a recycled yarn cannot be as strong as one made from virgin materials. Enter Unifi, maker of recycled polyester brand Repreve. The company recently launched Fortisyn, an abrasion-resistant and durable yarn that provides fabrics with enhanced tear and tensile strength, offering a robust solution for military and first-responder uniforms and tactical gear. 'Fabrics containing Fortisyn can withstand exposure to harsh elements and rough handling while maintaining their form, function and appearance over time,' states Unifi in a press release. 'In collaboration with mills and strategic partners, Fortisyn has undergone rigorous fabric testing to validate its exceptional performance. The launch marks a step forward in the scaling of recycled, circular technology yarns into the most durable applications,' adds Unifi CEO Eddie Ingle. 'A step forward in scaling recycled, circular technology yarns" Fortisyn is available in nylon 6,6 and Repreve Nylon, a recycled type 6, circular nylon made from post-industrial yarn waste. The latter is fully traceable with FiberPrint technology and certified by U-Trust, along with Oeko-Tex, GRS and SCS certifications for recycled content. In addition to its durability and abrasion resistance, Fortisyn comes with solution-dyed capability for enhanced colourfastness. It is available globally and in combination with other yarn technologies from Unifi. The company is currently showcasing Fortisyn at Techtextil North America in Atlanta until 8th May.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UNIFI®, Makers of REPREVE®, Launches Fortisyn™, an Inherently Durable Yarn for Military and Tactical Gear
Revolutionary offering provides exceptional durability, functionality, and appearance for critical military and tactical applications; available globally and made-in-USA, including on the REPREVE platform GREENSBORO, N.C., May 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), the makers of REPREVE® and one of the world's leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today launched Fortisyn™, an abrasion-resistant yarn engineered for ultimate durability in tactical applications. This innovative yarn provides fabrics with enhanced tear and tensile strength, offering a robust solution for military and first responder uniforms and tactical gear. Fortisyn is available made-in-USA for Berry Amendment compliant applications. Fabrics containing Fortisyn can withstand exposure to harsh elements and rough handling while maintaining their form, function, and appearance over time. Fortisyn is available in nylon 6,6 and REPREVE® Nylon, a recycled type 6, circular nylon made from post-industrial yarn waste. "In collaboration with mills and strategic partners, Fortisyn has undergone rigorous fabric testing to validate its exceptional performance. The launch marks a step forward in the scaling of recycled, circular technology yarns into the most durable applications," said Eddie Ingle, CEO of UNIFI. About Fortisyn: Engineered for inherent durability and abrasion resistance. Solution-dyed capability for enhanced colorfastness. Fortisyn, made with REPREVE Nylon, is fully traceable with FiberPrint ® technology and certified by U-TRUST ® , along with Oeko-Tex®, GRS, and SCS certifications for recycled content. Available globally and in combination with other UNIFI yarn technologies. UNIFI will showcase Fortisyn at Booth 4241 at Techtextil North America held on May 6-8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit About UNIFI, Inc. UNIFI, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) is a global leader in fiber science and sustainable synthetic textiles. Using proprietary recycling technology, UNIFI is a pioneer in scaling the transformation of post-industrial and post-consumer waste into sustainable products. Through REPREVE®, the world's leading brand of traceable, recycled fiber and resin, UNIFI is changing the way industries think about the materials they use – and reuse. A vertically-integrated manufacturer, the company has direct operations in the United States, Colombia, El Salvador, and Brazil and sales offices all over the world. UNIFI envisions a future where circular and sustainable solutions are the only choice. For more information about UNIFI, visit
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
UNIFI ®, Makers of REPREVE ®, Launches Fortisyn™, an Inherently Durable Yarn for Military and Tactical Gear
GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), the makers of REPREVE ® and one of the world's leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today launched Fortisyn™, an abrasion-resistant yarn engineered for ultimate durability in tactical applications. This innovative yarn provides fabrics with enhanced tear and tensile strength, offering a robust solution for military and first responder uniforms and tactical gear. Fortisyn is available made-in-USA for Berry Amendment compliant applications. Fabrics containing Fortisyn can withstand exposure to harsh elements and rough handling while maintaining their form, function, and appearance over time. Fortisyn is available in nylon 6,6 and REPREVE ® Nylon, a recycled type 6, circular nylon made from post-industrial yarn waste. 'In collaboration with mills and strategic partners, Fortisyn has undergone rigorous fabric testing to validate its exceptional performance. The launch marks a step forward in the scaling of recycled, circular technology yarns into the most durable applications,' said Eddie Ingle, CEO of UNIFI. About Fortisyn: Engineered for inherent durability and abrasion resistance. Solution-dyed capability for enhanced colorfastness. Fortisyn, made with REPREVE Nylon, is fully traceable with FiberPrint ® technology and certified by U-TRUST ®, along with Oeko-Tex®, GRS, and SCS certifications for recycled content. Available globally and in combination with other UNIFI yarn technologies. UNIFI will showcase Fortisyn at Booth 4241 at Techtextil North America held on May 6-8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit About UNIFI, Inc. UNIFI, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) is a global leader in fiber science and sustainable synthetic textiles. Using proprietary recycling technology, UNIFI is a pioneer in scaling the transformation of post-industrial and post-consumer waste into sustainable products. Through REPREVE®, the world's leading brand of traceable, recycled fiber and resin, UNIFI is changing the way industries think about the materials they use – and reuse. A vertically-integrated manufacturer, the company has direct operations in the United States, Colombia, El Salvador, and Brazil and sales offices all over the world. UNIFI envisions a future where circular and sustainable solutions are the only choice. For more information about UNIFI, visit About REPREVE® Made by UNIFI, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), REPREVE® is the global leader in recycled performance fibers and resins. Using proprietary recycling technology, REPREVE leverages multiple waste sources, including single-use plastic bottles, ocean -bound plastic, textile waste, and recycled yarn. REPREVE has transformed more than 40 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber, powering globally scalable products for world-leading brands. Made traceable with FiberPrint® technology and certified by U-Trust®, REPREVE spans sports apparel, fashion, home, automotive, construction, transport, military, medical and packaged goods. For more information about REPREVE, visit
