Global sustainability initiative Fashion for Good has launched a new collaborative project called “D(r)ye Factory of the Future”. Its goal is to accelerate the transition from wet to dry processing, since textile processing is responsible for the highest greenhouse gas emissions and the largest water and chemical consumption in the fashion industry value chain. The project therefore combines several innovations in textile pretreatment and dyeing that have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 89 percent and water consumption by 83 to 95 percent.
“Textile processing is the largest contributor to carbon emissions in the supply chain, and a shift to predominantly dry processing is critical to moving towards net zero. In view of the mutual dependencies in the processing stages, an individual evaluation of solutions is not sufficient. By validating a combination of technologies, we can unlock the full potential of these solutions. That’s why this project is so important,” comments Katrin Ley, Managing Director of Fashion for Good, in a press release.
The D(r)ye Factory of the Future connects brands and innovative companies
Fashion for Good is leading the project, collaborating with brands such as Adidas, Kering, PVH Corp, Arvind Limited and Welspun India, which bring extensive expertise in the textile sector, as well as innovative companies such as Alchemy Technologies, Deven Supercriticals, eCO2Dye, Grinp, Indigo Mill Designs, Imogo, Mtix and Stony Creek Colors to bring together various novel technologies. The aim is to transform the current processing, pre-treatment, dyeing and finishing of textiles in the fashion industry supply chain.
“The traditional pre-treatment, coloring and finishing that takes place at Stage 2 of the supply chain (see image below) is often done in large tanks or baths that require large amounts of energy, heat and water. This generates the most greenhouse gas emissions (52 percent) and releases large amounts of toxins into the water. One of the most important levers to reduce impacts is the shift from wet processes to predominantly dry processes – innovative processing technologies that use very little or no water and less energy,” explains Fashion for Good.
Together for greater impact
Unlike a range of innovations in this area, which are often explored in isolation, the D(r)ye Factory of the Future project brings together multiple innovations to make a bigger impact and accelerate the transition to more sustainable practices. After an initial focus on innovations in pre-treatment and dyeing, solutions will be tested in combination to validate their impact and potential to scale up the fashion industry value chain.
Specifically, the eight innovative companies will work together on five different materials: cotton, polyester, mixed fabrics, denim and wool. Technologies tested include plasma and laser treatments, spray dyeing, supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) and foam dyeing. “The results of the evaluations and the next steps for implementation will be presented in a report at the end of 2022,” promises Fashion for Good. The partners of the initiative will also help to facilitate the implementation of the solutions found at selected manufacturing companies.
For those who want to know more, Fashion for Good has compiled an accompanying overview of the technologies and their potential impact in the Textile Processing Guide: Pre-treatment, Coloration and Finishing report, available on the organization’s website.