High-tech yarns and fabrics are currently the heart of North Carolina textile manufacturing. Unifi Manufacturing Inc. spins yarn from ground-up plastic bottles and other polyester waste at its Yadkinville plant. Plastic pellets, formed when the bottles are melted down, are extruded through the tiny holes, and joined into threads of various shapes and thicknesses to achieve different textures and lusters. Last year, the Yadkinville plant recycled more than 410 million plastic bottles for yarn. Read more »
