UNIFI Releases FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot Highlighting Circular Growth and REPREVE Platform Expansion
Unifi, the company behind the globally recognized REPREVE® brand and a pioneer in recycled and synthetic performance yarns, has published its FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot, outlining significant advancements in circular manufacturing, waste transformation, and responsible production. The annual publication underscores UNIFI’s continued investment in scaling the REPREVE platform while reinforcing its long-term environmental commitments. As one of the world’s most established innovators in recycled yarn technology, UNIFI uses this report to document measurable progress toward its 2030 goals, emphasizing waste diversion, greenhouse gas reductions, water stewardship, and energy efficiency. The FY2025 Snapshot not only quantifies achievements but also reflects the company’s broader “Waste Nothing” philosophy, demonstrating how sustainability remains central to both operational strategy and revenue growth.
Landmark Achievement: One Billion T-Shirts’ Worth of Waste Transformed
A defining milestone in the FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot is UNIFI’s achievement of recycling the equivalent of one billion T-shirts’ worth of textile and yarn waste through its expanding REPREVE ecosystem. This benchmark reflects cumulative waste diverted and reprocessed into high-performance fibers suitable for apparel, insulation, and industrial applications. The milestone includes contributions from multiple circular product streams under the REPREVE umbrella, such as REPREVE Takeback™, ThermaLoop™ Insulation, REPREVE ReCirculate™, and REPREVE Nylon. Each of these platforms addresses different waste inputs while maintaining consistent fiber performance and quality standards. By transforming textile scraps, post-industrial waste, and post-consumer materials into reusable fiber solutions, UNIFI continues to close the loop within the textile value chain. This progress positions the company firmly on track to achieve its FY2030 goal of recycling the equivalent of 1.5 billion T-shirts’ worth of waste, further strengthening its leadership in circular yarn production.
Global Launch of Circular Polyester from Textile Waste
Earlier in the fiscal year, UNIFI expanded its circular portfolio by launching globally available circular polyester products made entirely from textile waste. These innovations include applications in insulation and white filament yarns, offering brand partners scalable alternatives to virgin polyester materials. The introduction of textile-waste-based polyester marks a critical evolution in the REPREVE platform, moving beyond bottle-to-fiber recycling into true fiber-to-fiber circularity. By converting textile waste into new polyester insulation and filament products, UNIFI demonstrates how technical innovation can unlock broader applications for recycled content. The expansion also signals increasing market demand for traceable and circular solutions that meet stringent environmental and performance criteria. As brands and retailers push toward science-based climate targets and circular design commitments, UNIFI’s textile-to-textile recycling capabilities create new pathways for waste diversion while maintaining high standards of durability and comfort.
Expanding Plastic Bottle Recycling Goals Through FY2030
In addition to textile waste transformation, UNIFI announced an ambitious new goal in its FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot: recycling 65 billion plastic bottles by fiscal year 2030. This updated objective builds on existing commitments and complements the company’s previously established target of transforming 1.5 billion T-shirts’ worth of textile and yarn waste by the same timeframe. To date, UNIFI has already diverted 46 billion plastic bottles from landfills through its REPREVE manufacturing processes. By setting a higher benchmark, the company reinforces its confidence in both technological capabilities and growing market adoption. Plastic bottle recycling remains a cornerstone of REPREVE’s production model, enabling the conversion of PET waste into performance yarns used by global apparel, footwear, and home goods brands. The scale of bottle diversion achieved thus far illustrates how circular materials can meaningfully reduce landfill burden while supporting commercial growth.
Measurable Reductions in Environmental Footprint
The FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot highlights consistent year-over-year reductions in greenhouse gas emissions intensity, energy usage, water consumption, and raw material inputs across UNIFI’s global operations. These improvements stem from efficiency initiatives, manufacturing optimizations, and increasing reliance on recycled feedstocks through the REPREVE platform. By integrating sustainability metrics into operational performance tracking, UNIFI ensures environmental progress is aligned with production expansion. Notably, the company reported zero noncompliant water discharges across all local municipalities and in accordance with national regulatory requirements. This achievement underscores the strength of its environmental management systems and responsible manufacturing standards. As sustainability regulations tighten globally, UNIFI’s proactive compliance and transparent reporting strengthen its credibility with brand partners and institutional stakeholders.
REPREVE’s Growing Contribution to Revenue
The REPREVE brand continues to represent a growing share of UNIFI’s total business performance. In FY2025, REPREVE accounted for 31 percent of company revenue, reflecting strong adoption among global brands seeking sustainable fiber alternatives. UNIFI has set a target for REPREVE to contribute more than 50 percent of revenue by FY2030, demonstrating how sustainability initiatives are directly linked to long-term financial growth. This revenue expansion is driven by innovation within the REPREVE portfolio, broader geographic availability, and increasing regulatory and consumer demand for recycled materials. By positioning sustainability not as a niche offering but as a core business driver, UNIFI reinforces the viability of circular manufacturing at industrial scale. The company’s ability to translate environmental impact into measurable financial performance sets it apart within the textile and performance fiber sector.
Recognition Among the World’s Most Innovative Companies
UNIFI’s sustainability leadership and material innovation earned external validation when the company was named one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025” in the Fashion and Apparel category. This recognition reflects UNIFI’s continued investment in research, development, and scalable recycling technologies. The accolade highlights the transformative potential of REPREVE and related platforms in reshaping how textiles are produced and reused. Industry recognition reinforces the credibility of UNIFI’s circular claims and strengthens partnerships with brands that prioritize sustainability and innovation. As global apparel companies compete to reduce carbon footprints and integrate recycled content into product lines, UNIFI’s award-winning innovation positions it as a preferred materials partner.
CEO Perspective on Innovation and “Waste Nothing” Commitment
Eddie Ingle, Chief Executive Officer of UNIFI, emphasized that the sixth annual sustainability publication reinforces the company’s foundational “Waste Nothing” mission. According to Ingle, momentum across FY2025 was driven by product innovation, expansion of sustainable offerings, and continuous boundary-pushing in recycling and waste reduction technologies. The company’s strategy centers on making circular manufacturing accessible at global scale rather than limiting recycled solutions to premium or niche segments. By broadening availability and improving cost efficiency, UNIFI aims to mainstream circular yarns across multiple markets and price tiers. Leadership messaging within the Snapshot reinforces that sustainability is integrated into corporate governance, operational planning, and customer engagement strategies.
Circular Materials Supporting Global Brand Goals
The FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot reiterates UNIFI’s role in enabling global brands to meet their circularity and sustainable materials commitments. As regulatory pressures intensify and consumers demand greater transparency, brands increasingly seek traceable recycled content with verified environmental benefits. The REPREVE platform offers fiber solutions that support closed-loop initiatives, climate reporting frameworks, and corporate ESG targets. Through partnerships spanning apparel, footwear, automotive, and home textiles, UNIFI’s materials help companies reduce virgin resource dependence while maintaining product performance. The ability to quantify waste transformation, bottle diversion, and emissions reductions strengthens the value proposition for brand collaborators navigating sustainability disclosures and science-based targets.
Continued Progress Toward 2030 Sustainability Milestones
Looking ahead, UNIFI’s FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot outlines a clear roadmap toward fiscal year 2030 objectives. With one billion T-shirts’ worth of waste already transformed and 46 billion bottles recycled, the company has established a strong foundation for achieving its expanded goals. Continued innovation in textile-to-textile recycling, scaling of circular polyester insulation, and portfolio expansion within REPREVE Nylon and Takeback initiatives will be central to future growth. Operational efficiency improvements and responsible water management practices are expected to further reduce environmental impact metrics. By aligning revenue targets with sustainability performance indicators, UNIFI demonstrates that environmental stewardship and financial resilience can advance together.
Reinforcing Leadership in Recycled and Synthetic Yarn Innovation
The FY2025 Sustainability Snapshot ultimately reinforces UNIFI’s position as a leader in recycled and synthetic yarn innovation. Through measurable achievements, ambitious new goals, and external recognition, the company illustrates how circular manufacturing can operate effectively at scale. From transforming textile waste into new fiber products to setting aggressive bottle recycling targets, UNIFI’s progress reflects a strategic commitment to closing material loops within the global textile industry. As FY2030 approaches, the company’s focus remains on accelerating adoption of circular solutions, reducing environmental impact across operations, and supporting customers in their sustainability journeys. The Snapshot stands as both a progress report and a forward-looking blueprint for advancing circularity in the fiber and apparel value chain.
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