REPREVE® Staple Fiber NAFTA and Berry Amendment Compliant
Greensboro, North Carolina – Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), a leading producer of sustainable textiles, continues to expand its REPREVE® brand of recycled fibers through a manufacturing and distribution relationship with Palmetto Synthetics, LLC. Under this relationship, Unifi’s REPREVE chip, produced at the REPREVE Recycling Center, will be purchased and processed by Palmetto into staple fiber and will be sold under the REPREVE brand name. This will provide the textile industry with a U.S. made REPREVE staple fiber product option.
“We have a shared vision with Unifi to provide the textile industry with high quality, innovative products, which led us to this supply relationship,” said David Poston, vice president of Palmetto Synthetics. “We have seen a big shift in inquiries for a domestically made recycled fiber, and this initiative with Unifi allows us to amplify our domestic efforts.”
Available as either natural or solution-dyed polyester staple fiber, REPREVE products produced by Palmetto will be NAFTA and Berry Amendment compliant. REPREVE staple fiber is suitable in a wide range of applications, including apparel, military, denim, upholstery, industrial, medical, automotive and nonwoven products.
“Since 2007, we have continued to grow our product offering, helping to make REPREVE a leading brand of recycled fibers globally,” said Jay Hertwig, vice president, global branding at Unifi, Inc. “As we expand our REPREVE polymer chip sales, we are now in a position to enter into new market segments and will provide the industry with a transparent recycled solution.”
The products produced out of the REPREVE Recycled Center are third party certified for recycled content claims through Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Additionally, Unifi recently received the SCS Responsible Source certification; confirming that REPREVE products are responsibly produced and in compliance with environmental and social regulations. Palmetto’s NatureSpun™ product will be replaced with REPREVE and any existing NatureSpun adoptions will be converted over to REPREVE.
About Palmetto Synthetics:
Palmetto Synthetics, LLC, is a privately held company that has distinguished itself in the staple fiber industry by providing high quality, specialty thermoplastic fibers adding tremendous value to the products of their global customer base. The company produces specialty synthetics fibers, including solution dyed and specialty polymers and additives, for automotive, military, apparel, and industrial applications.
About Unifi:
Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) is a diversified producer and processor of multi-filament polyester and nylon textured yarns and related raw materials. The Company adds value to the supply chain and enhances consumer demand for its products through the development and introduction of branded yarns that provide unique performance, comfort and aesthetic advantages. Key Unifi brands include, but are not limited to: AIO® – all-in-one performance yarns, SORBTEK®, A.M.Y.®, MYNX® UV, REPREVE®, REFLEXX®, MICROVISTA® and SATURA®. Unifi’s yarns and brands are readily found in home furnishings, apparel, legwear, and sewing thread, as well as industrial, automotive, military, and medical applications. For more information about Unifi, visit www.unifi.com, or to learn more about REPREVE®, visit www.repreve.com.
About REPREVE:
REPREVE® brand products are made from recycled materials, including pre-consumer manufacturing waste and post-consumer plastic bottles. REPREVE is an essential ingredient that makes fabrics and products containing REPREVE fiber sustainable. REPREVE can be found throughout many products, ranging from apparel and socks to office furnishings, It is also used in industrial, automotive and medical applications. REPREVE has been adopted by some of the world’s leading brands and retailers, including Patagonia, The North Face, Haggar and Ford. REPREVE is made by a publicly-held U.S. based company, Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI). For more information about REPREVE, visit www.repreve.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws about Unifi, Inc.’s (the “Company”) financial condition and results of operations that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets in which the Company operates, as well as management’s beliefs and assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” variations of such words and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s judgment only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
Factors that may cause actual outcome and results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, availability, sourcing and pricing of raw materials, the success of our subsidiaries, pressures on sales prices and volumes due to competition and economic conditions, reliance on and financial viability of significant customers, operating performance of joint ventures, alliances and other equity investments, technological advancements, employee relations, changes in construction spending, capital expenditures and long-term investments (including those related to unforeseen acquisition opportunities), continued availability of financial resources through financing arrangements and operations, outcomes of pending or threatened legal proceedings, negotiation of new or modifications of existing contracts for asset management and for property and equipment construction and acquisition, regulations governing tax laws, other governmental and authoritative bodies’ policies and legislation, and proceeds received from the sale of assets held for disposal. In addition to these representative factors, forward-looking statements could be impacted by general domestic and international economic and industry conditions in the markets where the Company competes, such as changes in currency exchange rates, interest and inflation rates, recession and other economic and political factors over which the Company has no control. Other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the Company’s other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
