Archroma has developed a method for turning waste cotton and/or polyamide fibres and their blends – with a purity of more than 95% – into a major part of the petroleum-based raw material usually used to make dyestuff.

The resulting patent-pending FiberColors range is exclusive to Archroma and includes five dyes covering a palette of brown, olive, maroon, blue grey and dark grey shades. The dyes are synthesized with a minimum content of 50% waste-based raw material and especially suitable for cellulose fibres such as cotton, viscose, linen and kapok. They can be used in continuous, exhaust, denim and garment dyeing and printing processes.

The development enables brands to turn their own pre- and post-consumer textile waste into new dyes and create completely new collections.

FiberColors are ideal for forward-thinking companies who want to help find a solution to textile landfills, and at the same time give value to waste – including articles collected in take-back schemes that cannot be reused.

“After creating colours from food and herbal waste with EarthColors, we are taking a step further in circular manufacturing with FiberColors, addressing the huge textile and fashion waste issue,” said Archroma CEO Heike van de Kerkhof.

EarthColors dyes are already used by by brands including G-Star, Patagonia, Esprit, Tom Taylor, Pangaia, UGG and Primark.

www.archroma.com