DAEJEON – Scientists in South Korea say they have found a way to dye textiles more sustainably by bioengineering bacteria to produce large amounts of indigo dye without the use of toxic chemicals.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in the city of Daejeon injected DNA into a type of bacterium, corynebacterium glutamicum, that produces the building blocks of the blue dye, indigoidine.
Their study, published in the peer-reviewed ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering journal, points out that the textile industry has caused severe water pollution by using toxic chemicals to produce fabric dyes.
Already have an account? Log In
Recommended
Most Popular
Latest Magazine
Features
Why China’s new wastewater standard is only one part of a broader shift spanning environmental law
As Brussels switches on its product passport registry, fashion’s supply chain data gaps threaten a bumpy rollout
As green claims face closer regulatory scrutiny liability no longer sits solely with the brands
News
Preview of our Textile Standards & Legislation Guide
China’s strengthened rules make officials personally accountable for serious environmental damage
New process to strip reactive dyes from cotton could benefit textile-to-textile recycling
Opinion
European factory closures show costs, geography and demand decide which materials survive
Other publications from MCL News & Media
