Huntsman Textile Effects has been selected as the overall winner in the 2014 ICIS Innovation Awards for its AVITERA SE dyes, also becoming the first recipient of the new Innovation with Best Benefit to Environment or Sustainability Award.

The awards recognise the contribution of the AVITERA SE dyes in supporting environmental and economic sustainability for the textile industry.

According to the panel of judges, the product has a wide ranging impact and tells a strong positive story to communicate to the public. “We need dyes and textiles but have long recognised that there are problems with water use in this sector. This innovation addresses a major issue.”

Environmental and competitive pressures

Presented by ICIS, the world's largest petrochemical market information provider, the ICIS Innovation Awards are among the most sought-after accolades in the international chemicals sector. ICIS introduced the new ‘Environment or Sustainability’ category to the 11th Awards in 2014 to highlight the important links between these areas and encourage innovation that produces distinct benefits.

“The global textiles industry is at an inflection point today as environmental and competitive pressures are demanding new approaches. These prestigious ICIS Innovation Awards reaffirm Huntsman Textile Effects’ role in helping to lead this change with a focus on innovation that meets real industry need,” said Paul Hulme, Global President, Huntsman Textile Effects.

Sustainability targets

“The development of our revolutionary AVITERA SE dyes is a result of our adherence to the three pillars on which Huntsman Textile Effects is built: sustainability, innovation and collaboration,” added Paul Hulme.

“As a leading supplier of chemicals and dyes, we remain committed to working with our customers and other industry partners to find innovative new solutions that help achieve cost-effective production, improved textile products and minimal environmental impact.”

The AVITERA SE dyes are poly-reactive dyes that is said to allow processing mills to reduce the dyeing and washing-off cycles and to increase productivity. Compared with current best-available technologies, AVITERA SE reduces water consumption by up to 50%, energy and CO2 by up to 50%, salt consumption by 20%, and cycle time by 25%.

Legacy of innovation

Huntsman Textile Effects devotes about 5% of annual sales to Research and Technology, with around half of the 30-35 new products released each year related to the environment and sustainability. The company holds more than 1,100 active patent rights and derives more than 25% of sales from products less than five years old.

Previous winners of ICIS Innovation Awards also include other Huntsman Group companies. Huntsman Advanced Materials earned the Best Business Innovation Award in 2010 for embracing rapid prototyping and going a significant step further to develop a complete rapid manufacturing solution with its Araldite Digitalis range.

For more information visit huntsman.com