Archroma Launches Fibercolors* Technology

Archroma Launches FiberColors* Technology to Market According to Earth.org, 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced annually, with this figure expected to reach 134 million tonnes within a decade. Approximately 85% of textile products in the US end up in landfills, leading to soil and water pollution that primarily affects local communities. Archroma, a company producing colours for fashion, has decided to address this issue creatively by creating colours from waste fashion. Archroma had previously developed a way to transform waste from plants and food industries into the EarthColors® range, which includes brands such as G-Star, Patagonia, Esprit, Tom Taylor, Pangaia, UGG and Primark. Archroma is now launching another groundbreaking innovation: FiberColors* technology. With this technology, Archroma transforms textile waste into stunning colours. The colours are synthesized from a minimum of 50% waste-based raw materials. Archroma's R&D specialists developed a method to replace a significant portion of petroleum-based raw materials typically used in dye production with cotton and polyamide and their blends (at >95% purity). The resulting FiberColors* series, which is patent-pending and proprietary to Archroma, comprises five dyes covering a palette of timeless colour tones: Diresul® Fiber-Teak (brown tones), Diresul® Fiber-Ochre (olive tones), Diresul® Fiber-Burgundy (burgundy tones), Diresul® Fiber-Slate (blue-grey tones) and Diresul® Fiber-Graphite (dark grey tones). Heike van de Kerkhof, Chief Executive Officer of Archroma, stated: "Following the creation of colours from food and plant waste with EarthColors®, FiberColors* takes us one step further in circular production and addresses the global textile and fashion waste problem. We are making our objective of guiding our sector towards a more sustainable future for our customers and markets a reality. Because nature is our nature." The dyes are particularly suitable for cellulose fibres such as cotton, viscose, linen and kapok, and can be used in denim and apparel dyeing and printing processes. With this, a brand can transform its own textile waste into beautiful colours and create a complete collection encompassing t-shirts, chinos, sweatshirts, hoodies, polo shirts and home textiles. Source