Greensboro, NC, based Unifi has become the inaugural business recipient of the 2018 UNC Sustainability Award from Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Center for Sustainable Enterprise and the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.

The prestigious award recognises leadership and best practices in environmental and business sustainability for North Carolina enterprises. Leading textiles solutions company, which makes its Repreve performance fibre from recycled materials, including plastic bottles, accepted the award at a special dinner on 10 May.

“Unifi is honoured to be recognised by UNC as a leader in developing innovative, environmentally-friendly practices as part of our business model,” said Unifi CEO Kevin Hall. “We are proud to have partnered with the world’s leading brands to transform more than 10 billion bottles into performance fibres and are on track for 30 billion by 2022.”

Commitment to landfill-free manufacturing

UNC chose Unifi to receive the award because of the company’s strong history of commitment to sustainability, along with its strategic and thoughtful business practices. Criteria selection includes:

• Initiative: The drive to act or take charge before others do.
• Innovation: A new or novel idea, method, or approach.
• Impact: To have a strong effect on someone or something.

“Unifi is a leader in sustainability among American-based companies,” said Brad Ives, UNC’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Enterprises and Chief Sustainability Officer. “They have long been a leader in using recycled materials to manufacture their innovative yarns while showing that superior products do not need virgin materials.”

“Likewise, their commitment to landfill-free manufacturing demonstrates a great environmental commitment to their local communities. As a North Carolinian, I am immensely proud to have a forward-thinking company like Unifi headquartered here.”

Developing sustainable solutions

Leaders at UNC say the goal of the award is to highlight the exceptional work that North Carolina businesses are doing, while continuing to pursue green initiatives and goals. They hope the award challenges other businesses to take a look at their practices and follow sustainable suit.

“The Center for Sustainable Enterprise has been a thought leader in sustainability for almost 20 years,” said Albert Segars, PNC Distinguished Professor, Strategy & Entrepreneurship and Faculty Director, Center for Sustainable Enterprise. “There are also many businesses in North Carolina that have been innovative leaders in sustainable enterprise, in some cases for much longer than 20 years. We thought it was time to highlight the positive stories of those organisations and highlight their leadership in building profitable as well as sustainable models of business.”

“At Unifi, we have a passion and commitment for developing sustainable performance solutions that go into products everyone can feel good about wearing and buying,” said Kevin Hall. “We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with UNC as we are recognized for best practices in sustainable enterprise.”

www.unifi.com