Spring commencements go green giving new life to nearly seven million bottles

Published On: May 4, 2012

Herff Jones’ Renew Collection to feature graduation gowns made from REPREVE recycled fiber

Herff Jones chooses REPREVE®, made by Unifi Inc. to help make spring commencements greener. This year, students from colleges and universities can feel even better about their commencement ceremonies because they will be wearing REPREVE-based graduation gowns.

More than 140 colleges and universities have chosen Renew Graduation caps and gowns made with REPREVE. Over 240,000 graduates will walk in Renew caps and gowns, including students from the University of Houston, University of Michigan, Syracuse University, Marquette University, Johns Hopkins University and Providence College.

REPREVE is made from recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic bottles. Each Herff Jones graduation gown made with REPREVE uses about 29 post-consumer plastic bottles, collectively using nearly seven million post-consumer plastic water bottles this year.

“Recognizing that these gowns are a onetime use product, it was very important to make them from REPREVE, helping to reduce their overall environmental impact,” says Tom Carew, vice president and general manager of the Cap and Gown Division of Herff Jones. “Following commencement, through the Renew Gown Recycling Program, graduates can donate their gowns to be recycled back into REPREVE, helping to create a closed loop recycling process.”

“In the United States less than 30 percent of all plastic bottles are recycled and it is our goal to educate people on how recycling and choosing products made with REPREVE can have a positive impact on the environment. These students are the future of this country and can start to encourage change in consumer behaviors for recycling,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO of Unifi.

REPREVE can be found throughout many products made by Ford, Polartec, Haggar, The North Face, Patagonia, AllSteel, Hon and Blue Avocado and others.

Unifi Inc. is a diversified producer and processor of multifilament polyester and nylon textured yarns and related raw materials. Unifi’s yarns and brands are found in home furnishings, apparel, legwear and sewing thread, as well as industrial, automotive, military and medical applications.

Herff Jones works closely with customers to create a climate of achievement through graduation products, class rings and jewelry, yearbooks, educational publishing and motivation and recognition tools. Founded nearly 100 years ago in Indianapolis, Indiana, Herff Jones is an employee-owned organization focused on building long-term relationships.

Source: REPREVE