Researchers claim spin-dye breakthrough

CRANFIELD – Researchers at Cranfield University in the UK have developed a single-step fibre spinning and colouration process using natural dyes and regenerated cellulose fibres blended with ionic liquids, which they claim offers a significant reduction in environmental impact.

Conventional textile dyeing has been widely criticised for its contribution to water pollution, with synthetic dyes releasing up to 40,000 tons of effluent globally each year and demanding around 150 litres of water per kg of fabric in some worse case scenarios, according to the authors.