Unifi Inc. announced recipients of the third annual Champions of Sustainability awards, recognizing companies driving sustainability.

This year, a total of 79 companies achieved key milestones using of Repreve recycled performance fiber.

Highlights include H&M, which has recycled more than a half-billion bottles with Walmart and Quiksilver reaching the quarter-billion bottle mark. Lovesac and Inditex, special category winners last year, both advanced to bottle-based awards.

“Working together, Unifi’s brand, retailer and textile partners have helped us recycle more than 19 billion bottles,” said Jay Hertwig, senior vice president of global sales and marketing for Unifi. “We are excited that more companies are committing to global responsibility and using our eco-friendly fiber options to positively impact our planet, both now and in the future.”

Repreve Champions of Sustainability will be awarded to 26 brand and retail partners that have each transformed 10 million or more recycled plastic bottles and 42 textile partners that have each transformed 50 million or more bottles using Repreve performance fibers. A list of award recipients can be found here.

“While plastic consumption is on the rise, we’re doing our part to give bottles a second life. It is our hope that these awards also inspire consumers to make recycling a daily habit and increase recycling rates,” said Hertwig.

Photo courtesy Unifi