Walmart and UNIFI Partner to Launch Circular Joyspun Socks Using Recycled Polyester

On Earth Day, Walmart unveiled a new sustainable product initiative through its private brand Joyspun, introducing socks made with REPREVE Takeback recycled polyester. The partnership with UNIFI, a leader in sustainable textile innovation, marks the first commercial use of this textile derived from post-industrial garment waste and recycled consumer products.

The Joyspun socks are made using UNIFI’s proprietary thermo-mechanical process, which blends clean, chopped post-consumer plastic bottles with fabric scraps from traditional clothing manufacturing. The result is a new fiber that gives polyester-rich waste materials a second life in the form of wearable products.

“This initiative is a step forward in reducing the massive volume of textile waste that ends up in landfills each year,” said Debasis Manna of Walmart’s private brand fashion team. “By using leftover fabric from garment production, we’re turning waste into resources without sacrificing quality or affordability.”

According to Earth.org, the average American throws away over 80 pounds of clothing annually. UNIFI reports that 92 million tons of textile waste are generated globally each year, with over 15 percent of all fabric discarded during production. The REPREVE Takeback program is designed to close this loop, creating a more circular and regenerative manufacturing process.

“This collaboration moves us closer to a future where products are intentionally made to be remade,” said UNIFI CEO Eddie Ingle. “It’s a practical, scalable solution that redefines waste as a valuable resource.”

The socks have already proven popular. Within their first week on shelves, the Joyspun Takeback sock became the second-best selling style in Walmart’s P6 dress sock assortment.

Walmart’s move reflects its broader sustainability goals: to offer quality, affordable products without compromising environmental responsibility. The company believes that sustainability and scale can go hand-in-hand.