More Vertical Integration for Unifi's Repreve Fiber
Repreve, the recycled polyester made by Unifi Inc., is getting a little more vertical.
The Greensboro, N.C.–based fiber maker is bringing the extrusion process for Repreve fibers in-house. Unifi will be recycling post-consumer waste and post-industrial fabric waste into Repreve, a 100 percent recycled product with characteristics of the original fibers.
The company expects the new capabilities to be up and running by spring 2011.
Unifi also purchased a 40 percent stake in a biomass feedstock company, forming a joint venture to be called Repreve Renewables. The joint venture will focus on direct sales of Freedom Giant Miscanthus to farmers who will supply the product to bioenergy and biofuel operations in the United States and Europe. Freedom Giant Miscanthus is a perennial grass that efficiently converts sunlight into biomass energy, according to the company. The Freedom name is a trademark of Mississippi State University and is used under a license.
“We are continually looking for innovative, sustainable initiatives, and we are very excited about participating in this renewable-energy opportunity,” said Bill Jasper, Unifi chief executive officer and president. “Both of these initiatives will support our strategy to grow the Repreve brand and product portfolio.”
For more information, visit www.repreve.com.—Alison A. Nieder
