From Cotton to Color
Cotton waste processing into natural colorants.
Motivat
The textile industry faces a significant environmental challenge, annually generating 45 million tons of waste cotton textiles, of which 75% are incinerated or sent to landfills, causing environmental harm. Additionally, 67% of garments are made of plastic fibers, and when disposed of in landfills, 5% of them turn into microplastics that can end up on our plates.
Purpose of the project
The project aims to optimize the innovative process of Consortium partner Chicfashic and test it on a larger scale with the assistance of HAN BioCentre. This initiative aligns with Dutch government and EU regulations mandating textile recycling by 2050.
Method
Consortium partner Chicfashic proposes an innovative biotech process to address these issues by recovering and recycling plastic fibers while transforming natural fibers into bio-based molecules. These molecules are then used as secondary raw materials to produce bio-based pigments for textiles. The technology used is patent pending and does not involve the use of toxic chemicals or the release of harmful wastewater or fumes, contributing to a shift towards a more circular and sustainable textile industry by reintegrating natural colorants into textile production.
Our partners
Consortium partner (next to HAN)
- Chicfashic
Biobased Innovations
The researchers of the Biobased Innovations lectorate, together with students, conduct practice-oriented research. This research focuses on how we can make responsible and smart use of living nature. In doing so, we investigate the entire chain of biodiscovery.
