Atlanta's Plastic Waste Takes on New Life as Host Committee Uniforms

ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is working with partners to promote the importance of recycling as fans from across the nation converge on Atlanta for the biggest sporting event of the year. Together with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia Aquarium and global textile solutions provider Unifi, Inc., ATL is supporting a circular economy by collecting plastic bottles to be transformed into REPREVE^® recycled fiber for use in athletic and fashion apparel.

This week, the partners are unveiling a special edition GreeningATL uniform for the Atlanta Host Committee. The eco-friendly jackets are made with REPREVE, the world's leading branded recycled fiber made from plastic bottles. Bottles were collected from ATL, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Georgia Aquarium, then transported to the Unifi recycling facility in North Carolina to create recycled fiber. Each Host Committee jacket uses six plastic bottles, preventing tons of waste from going into landfills and our oceans.

"GreeningATL reflects our commitment to managing our resources and integrating innovation for a sustainable future," said Liza Milagro, Resilience & Sustainability Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. "By partnering with Unifi to create these special edition uniforms, we're making our zero-waste policy tangible and showing Atlanta's visitors our commitment to sustainability."

Compared to its daily average of 60,000-75,000 visitors, ATL expects more than 3.2 million to travel through the airport between Jan. 25 and Feb. 5, 2019. It is estimated that those visitors will generate more than 400 tons of divertible recyclables. This circular economy initiative will collect and convert recyclable plastic bottles into REPREVE fiber.

To date, Unifi has recycled more than 14 billion plastic bottles to make REPREVE and aims to recycle 20 billion bottles by 2020.

"Our goal in partnering during one of the busiest times of the year is to demonstrate the importance and impact of the circular economy, where recycling, reuse and transformation of items results in a 'greener' airport and more sustainable city," said Richard Gerstein, EVP, Global Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Unifi.

The Host Committee can be seen wearing the special edition GreeningATL uniforms in the Airport and across the City of Atlanta for the big game; however, it is hoped the uniforms will be worn – to express pride in the City's efforts – well after the game concludes. 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the world's first busiest and most efficient airport, serving more than 103 million passengers annually with nonstop service to more than 150 U.C. destinations and 70 international destinations in more than 50 countries. ATL boasts a direct economic impact of $34.8 billion in metro Atlanta and a total direct economic impact of $70.9 billion in Georgia. The Airport is the largest employer in Georgia, with more than 63,000 individuals working on-site. The Airport is a frequent recipient of awards of excellence for concessions, operations, sustainability, architectural engineering and construction. In 2016, ATL set in motion a multibillion-dollar capital improvement program, ATLNext, which will modernize the Domestic Terminal, extend two concourses, construct several parking decks, add a sixth runway, expand cargo facilities and pave the way for a 440-room InterContinental Hotel with Class A office space. For more information, visit www.atl.com

About REPREVE®:

Made by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), REPREVE® is the global leader in branded recycled performance fibers, transforming more than 14 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber for new clothing, shoes, home goods and other consumer products. REPREVE is the earth-friendly solution to making consumers' favorite brands more environmentally responsible. Found in products from many of the world's leading brands, REPREVE fibers can also be enhanced with Unifi's proprietary technologies for increased performance and comfort. For more information about REPREVE, visit www.repreve.com, and connect with REPREVE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. REPREVE® is a trademark of Unifi, Inc.

https://unifi.com/sustainability

Contact: Kate Wolfe, [email protected]

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SOURCE Unifi, Inc.