Unifi hosts North Carolina governor

Pictured above, from left: Unifi President Tom Caudle, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael S. Regan, Poly Operations Manager for Unifi Manufacturing Barry Shore,
Vice President of Global Corporate Sustainability for VF Corp. Letitia Webster, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Unifi Chairman and CEO Kevin Hall and Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Enterprises and
Chief Sustainability Officer of UNC Chapel Hill Brad Ives

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Unifi hosted North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at its Yadkinville, North Carolina, facility, where he was able to see the economic impact the company is having on the state and nation, according to a news release from the company. Unifi makes its Repreve fiber from recycled materials, including plastic water bottles, at its Yadkinville plant.

“We’re honored that Gov. Cooper was able to see how Unifi contributes good-paying jobs for people in North Carolina,” says Unifi Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Hall. “We’ve invested $130 million over the past three years to deliver on innovation and our goal to reach 20 billion bottles transformed by 2020, and more than 30 billion by 2022, as we convert them into our Repreve sustainable and performance fibers.

“We’re also excited that we were able to show the governor how sustainability can make a significant difference in our circular economy,” Hall continues. “We want to increase opportunities for North Carolina businesses to turn waste into value, thereby creating new revenue streams while continually and meaningfully reducing environmental impact.”

The tour brought together government, business and university leaders from across the state, who were able to collaborate before during a roundtable discussion prior to the tour. Those in attendance included:

• Tracey Dellinger, regional industry manager, North Carolina Economic Development Partnership;
• Susan Fleetwood, executive director of economic development, Office of the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce;
• Glenn Jackman, senior international trade manager, North Carolina Economic Development Partnership;
• John Loyack, vice president, global business services, North Carolina Economic Development Partnership;
• Michael S. Regan, secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality;
• Brad Ives, associate vice chancellor for campus enterprises and chief sustainability officer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
• Letitia Webster, vice president of global corporate sustainability, VF Corp.