UNIFI® is a global company producing and developing innovative high-quality, recycled synthetic resin and yarn under its REPREVE® product platform. Working with major fashion brands and retailers, the company is a pioneer in scaling the transformation of post-industrial and post-consumer waste into sustainable products. UNIFI’s groundbreaking insulation, ThermaLoop™, is a Category Award Winner in Product Launches in the 2024 Just Style Excellence Awards. ThermaLoop recycles textile waste into a fast-drying, lightweight, and machine-washable insulation, backed by virgin-matched performance data for CLO (a measurement for thermal insulation), recovery, and fill power.
UNIFI is also recognized for its strong commitment to sustainability, as it sets new industry standards for circularity. Looking to expand impact throughout supply chains and empower product life cycles, UNIFI partners with global brands to take back their waste and keep materials in circulation longer.
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The Just Style Excellence Awards honor the most significant achievements and innovations in the apparel and textile industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies leading change and shaping the future of the industry.
Textile-to-textile recycling: A solution at scale
As a major leap forward in scalable textile-to-textile recycling, ThermaLoop insulation is a result of UNIFI’s relentless drive to solve one of the textile industry’s biggest challenges. Using their proprietary Textile Takeback™ process, this high-quality insulation uses recycled global post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste to create a next-generation material. ThermaLoop insulation is engineered with breakthrough REPREVE low-melt sustainable fiber technology. This enables the creation of synthetic padding to be made from 100%* recycled polyester feedstock. For ThermaLoop insulation, at least 50% of that recycled feedstock is coming from textile waste. These innovations not only maintain the integrity and performance of virgin-quality insulation, but also significantly reduce the environmental footprint of its production. Traceability and certification are critical tools to foster consumer trust and protect a brand’s reputation. ThermaLoop insulation contains a unique FiberPrint® tracer, directly embedded into its fibers, allowing for traceability at any point in the supply chain. Using this tracer, verified products are backed with U-TRUST® certification, empowering consumers and demonstrating brand reliability.
Textile-to-textile recycling is a critical component in the movement towards circularity in fashion. Supported with seamless supply chain integration, these products show promising reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, reduce industry reliance on virgin raw materials, and give purpose to a growing quantity of textile waste. With commercial scale and global availability, ThermaLoop insulation is a revolutionary new launch for polyester-reliant fashion brands, who have long sought to create circular apparel and are working towards critical sustainability goals. Matching brand efforts, UNIFI has set their own goal to recycle 1.5 billion T-shirts’ worth of textile waste by FY2030.
*100% recycled materials refers to the base polymer excluding colorants and/or additive packages.
Designed for functionality
Sustainable products are only realistic options, if they can also meet the rigorous demands of modern consumers. ThermaLoop insulation, available in down-like fiber, fiberball, and padding, offers performance, recovery, and thermal efficiency. Testing conducted with IDFL (International Down and Feather Testing Laboratory) has demonstrated that ThermaLoop performs well for thermal efficiency, recovery, and fill power. This machine-washable material combines practical consumer benefits with a sustainable ethos, which appeals to both environmentally-conscious brands and consumers. Fast-drying and lightweight, its physical properties make it well-engineered for outerwear, where moisture management and weight are critical factors. Designed for performance, ThermaLoop insulation is an ideal choice for a diverse range of applications, from outdoor apparel to gear and footwear. ThermaLoop’s launch showcases the potential of textile waste and boldly brings the industry into a circular future.
“Receiving the Just Style Award for Product Launch – Circularity is a tremendous honor and testament to the innovations we develop for a more sustainable future. Polyester is the world’s most used fiber, and the industry is at a crucial turning point for change. Our innovations empower brands to design with the entire product life cycle in mind, supporting their 2030 goals for sustainable materials. We’re committed to providing high-performance solutions that eliminate virgin resources and reduce carbon emissions, setting the standard for a more circular economy.”
– Eddie Ingle, CEO, UNIFI
Company Profile
About REPREVE®
Made by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), REPREVE® is the global leader in recycled performance fibers. Leveraging its proprietary regeneration technology, REPREVE has transformed more than 40 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber that is trusted by leading brands to develop sustainable products worldwide. REPREVE offers advanced fiber technology that delivers enhanced comfort, greater performance, superior durability, thermal regulation, and more. As the only eco-performance fiber with U-TRUST® product verification to certify transparency and traceability, REPREVE is uniquely positioned to empower brands and consumers to champion sustainability. As a catalyst for change,
REPREVE® is committed to leading the global shift towards a more sustainable future by innovating today. For more information about REPREVE, visit www.repreve.com.
About UNIFI
UNIFI, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) is a global textile solutions provider and one of the world’s leading innovators in manufacturing synthetic and recycled performance fibers. Through REPREVE®, one of UNIFI®‘s proprietary technologies and the global leader in branded recycled performance fibers, UNIFI has transformed more than 40 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber for new apparel, footwear, home goods, and other consumer products. UNIFI continually innovates technologies to meet consumer needs in moisture management, thermal regulation, antimicrobial protection, UV protection, stretch, water resistance, and enhanced softness. UNIFI collaborates with many of the world’s most influential brands in the sports apparel, fashion, home, automotive, and other industries. For more information about UNIFI, visit www.unifi.com.
UNIFI® is a registered trademark of Unifi, Inc.
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