CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- UNC Athletics released its sustainability report, highlighting environmental efforts throughout campus, including a university-wide 12 percent increase in collected recycling materials. North Carolina-based Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), makers of REPREVE®, teamed up with Carolina in 2014 to raise awareness among students, faculty, fans and alumni about recycling and how Unifi transforms plastic bottles into cool REPREVE-based products from some of the world's favorite brands. REPREVE and UNC Athletics have recycled more than 250,000 plastic bottles through REPREVE events alone.

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The next event takes place Saturday, Jan. 30, as the Tar Heels men's basketball team takes on Boston College at the Smith Center at 4 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2. The student section will be given REPREVE t-shirts each made from 15 recycled plastic bottles, and the UNC cheerleaders, dance team and Tar Heel mascot, Rameses, will also don REPREVE green shirts.

"Our collaboration with REPREVE is a perfect representation of the university's commitment to sustainability," said Bubba Cunningham, director of athletics at UNC. "The goals of Unifi and REPREVE's initiatives align seamlessly with ours as we work to continue increasing our green efforts across campus."

UNC Athletics is committed to other sustainability initiatives in addition to its work with REPREVE, such as the reduction of energy and water use. Some of these measures include:


    --  Increased number of recycling bins at athletic events
    --  Use of reclaimed water for athletic fields, which is eventually expected
        to save 10 million gallons of potable water annually
    --  Installation of low-flow toilets that reduce water consumption by up to
        30 percent per flush

"We're proud to work with an athletics program like Carolina that has supported our green initiatives over the past few years, and helped us recycle more than 250,000 plastic bottles into new products," said Roger Berrier, president and chief operating officer of Unifi, Inc. "A recycled plastic bottle can be the beginning of something new when it's transformed by REPREVE."

REPREVE is a recycled fiber made from plastic bottles that can be found in many of the world's leading brands including Ford, Volcom, The North Face, Haggar and Oak Hall Cap & Gown (supplier of graduation gowns for UNC). To learn more about UNC and REPREVE's #TurnItGreen efforts, visit www.REPREVE.com, or visit the REPREVE Facebook page www.facebook.com/REPREVE.

About REPREVE:
 REPREVE® is Unifi, Inc.'s (NYSE: UFI) flagship brand of recycled fibers, made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles. REPREVE can be found in products ranging from apparel and hosiery to automotive and industrial applications, and is used by some of the world's leading brands, including Patagonia, Haggar, Quiksilver and Ford. REPREVE's #TurnItGreen initiative is designed to encourage recycling and raise awareness among consumers that recycled bottles can be turned into cool products they use every day. For more information about REPREVE, visit www.REPREVE.com; like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

About Unifi:
 Unifi, Inc. is a multi-national manufacturing company that produces and sells textured and other processed yarns designed to meet customer specifications, and premier value-added ("PVA") yarns with enhanced performance characteristics. Unifi maintains one of the textile industry's most comprehensive polyester and nylon product offerings. Unifi enhances demand for its products, and helps others in creating a more effective textile industry supply chain, through the development and introduction of branded yarns that provide unique performance, comfort and aesthetic advantages. In addition to its flagship REPREVE® products - a family of eco-friendly yarns made from recycled materials - key Unifi brands include: SORBTEK®, REFLEXX®, AIO® - all-in-one performance yarns, SATURA®, AUGUSTA®, A.M.Y.®, MYNX® UV and MICROVISTA®. Unifi's yarns are readily found in the products of major brands in the apparel, hosiery, automotive, home furnishings, industrial and other end-use markets. For more information about Unifi, visit www.unifi.com; to learn more about REPREVE®, visit www.REPREVE.com.

REPREVE and #TurnItGreen are trademarks of Unifi, Inc.

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SOURCE Unifi, Inc.