GREENSBORO - Unifi has received its Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI) scores for its flagship Repreve brand of recycled fibres.

The Higg MSI (version 3.2) is regarded as the most comprehensive tool for sustainability analysts, designers and product developers who want to make more informed materials choices.

The Higg MSI study confirms that U.S.-manufactured Repreve reduces the global warming potential by 21 per cent compared to generic, mechanically-recycled polyester and 42 per cent compared to conventional virgin polyester.

The Higg MSI global warming potential is related to greenhouse gases. Based on the score, Repreve is verified to have   a lower carbon footprint than comparable materials. By using Repreve, organizations and consumers can therefore greatly reduce their environmental impact compared to using generic rPET (recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate), one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. Additionally, Repreve is the only eco-performance fibre with U TRUST verification to certify recycled content claims.

“We continue to build on our commitment to transparency by having the results of our Repreve Life Cycle Assessment verified and accepted into the Higg MSI,” said James Cooper, Unifi Sustainability Manager. “Repreve, manufactured in the U.S., has a lower global warming potential than standard   rPET, providing our customers with a verified pathway to lower their   environmental impact and meet their sustainability goals.”

The Higg MSI scores are used to communicate credible data about a product’s performance and validate sustainability progress. These results serve as a public scorecard for sharing the profile and data of a product’s environmental impact, which provides designers and consumers alike with information to make sustainability-based purchasing decisions.

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool measures the environmental impacts over the whole life cycle of a product or service, including emissions and consumption of material resources. In addition, it provides a more accurate estimate of environmental trade-offs that allows organizations to use more reliable and transparent data to prioritise impact reduction in products and services. The Higg MSI scores are based on an LCA reviewed by the global, multi-stakeholder nonprofit alliance for the consumer goods industry, Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and its technology partner, Higg Co.

“At Unifi, we’re working today for the good of tomorrow, and these scores validate our belief that we are having a positive impact on the future through the growth of Repreve,” said Unifi CEO Eddie Ingle. “This assessment assures consumers and brands that by purchasing or using Repreve recycled fibres, they are making a more conscious and sustainable impact on the present and the future. To our shareholders, this transparency reinforces our commitment to Repreve and the growth potential it has with consumers and brands as they increase their focus on sustainable alternatives.”