The Detroit Lions quarterbacks took to the practice field on August 6 wearing green jerseys made entirely from recycled fibers as part of the team’s sustainability initiative. Made from Unifi Inc.’s Repreve brand of recycled fibers, each jersey is made with 21 recycled plastic bottles. Fans attending the practice received fan towels, t-shirts, and other items made from recycled bottles.
The NFL team is partnering with Unifi Inc. in an initiative to support stadium-based recycling efforts. Through the partnership, the Detroit Lions will expand to 500 recycling bins throughout Ford Field, and in-stadium elements will encourage fans to “make the smart throw” by tossing bottles into recycling bins rather than trash cans.
The Lions are attempting to reach a target of a 100% recycling rate throughout the 2014 season.
Unifi says the Repreve recycled fibers can be found in products ranging from apparel and hosiery to automotive and industrial applications, and is used by brands such as Patagonia, Haggar, Quiksilver and Ford.