Fashion retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), United Kingdom, joining environmental watchdog
Greenpeace’s Detox campaign to stop chemical pollution of the Earth’s waters, has committed to
eliminate by 2020 toxic chemical releases from its supply chains and all products it sells.

Among other measures, M&S has committed to strengthen its ban of alkylphenol compounds;
eliminate perfluorocarbon usage within its supply chain by July 2016; conduct a public disclosure
feasibility trial related to dyehouse chemical discharges in China; and eliminate all chemicals
found to be hazardous as new evidence comes to light. It also has published its Environmental &
Chemical Policy and its restricted substances list.

November/December 2012

Levi Strauss & Co., San Francisco, has introduced Levi’s® WasteLess™, a collection of denim
jeans and trucker jackets made using materials derived from post-consumer recycled (PCR)
polyethylene terephthalate bottles and food trays. The 2013 collection will include a minimum of
20-percent PCR content, keeping more than 3.5 million containers out of landfills.

Brown, green, clear and black containers will be sorted by color and processed into fiber to
be blended with cotton. Cone Denim, Greensboro, N.C., will weave PCR/cotton and cotton yarns into
fabric for the collection.

“By adding value to waste, we hope to change the way people think about recycling,
ultimately incentivizing them to do more of it,” said James Curleigh, global president, Levi’s
brand.

November/December 2012

Polartec LLC, Lawrence, Mass., has introduced a man-made fiber insulation that provides improved
breathability and moisture-vapor transport in puffy-style apparel.

The company reports Polartec® Alpha® is highly stable and enables the use of more open and
breathable fabrics on the outer and inner layers of puffy-style apparel, in contrast to down and
existing man-made insulation batting used under high-density woven layers that form a vapor barrier
but can trap moisture inside a garment. Polartec Alpha continues to insulate when wet; dries faster
than traditional puffy-style insulation fabrics; is inherently wind-resistant; provides warmth; and
is lightweight, durable and highly compressible.

Developed for the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), the insulation received the highest
ratings of any product tested by SOF. Polartec Alpha jackets will be supplied to all Special Forces
operators, and the insulation will be offered at retail next fall.

November/December 2012

Haggar Clothing Co., Dallas, reports that more than 14 million plastic bottles have been recycled
in the first year of production of its LK Life Khaki™ casual pants collection for young consumers.
The fabrics used comprise a blend of cotton and Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc.’s Repreve®
recycled polyester fiber. Each pair of pants contains the equivalent of seven recycled bottles.

“Our work with the LK Life Khaki brand is an exciting opportunity to educate the consumer
that plastic bottles don’t belong in landfills; they can be recycled into products like casual
clothes, performance apparel, socks and even car interiors,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO,
Unifi.

November/December 2012