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Fashion for Good launches D(R)YE Factory of the Future project

Industry News, News | January 21, 2022 | By:

Fashion for Good has launched the D(R)YE Factory of the Future, a new consortium project that brings together several innovations in textile pre-treatment and coloration, that are set to accelerate the shift from wet to mostly dry processing. Textile processing is responsible for the highest greenhouse gas emissions, significant water and chemical use in the fashion value chain. The selected innovations have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 89%, and to cut water consumption by between 83 and 95 percent.

Orchestrated by Fashion for Good, the D(R)YE Factory of the Future partners with adidas, Kering, PVH Corp., Arvind Limited and Welspun India, and innovators to bring together several novel technologies with the aim of disrupting the current processing, pre-treatment, coloration (dyeing and printing) and finishing, of textiles in the fashion supply chain. Although a number of innovations exist in this space, they are often explored in isolation. To achieve greater impact and accelerate the shift to more sustainable practices, this project, initially focuses on innovations in pre-treatment and coloration, partners several innovations together to test their solutions in combination to validate their impact and potential to scale in the fashion value chain.

Working closely with participating Fashion for Good partners and key supply chain players, eight innovators, Alchemie Technologies, Deven Supercriticals, eCO2Dye, GRINP, Indigo Mill Designs, imogo, MTIX and Stony Creek Colors, will collaborate to demonstrate innovative solutions in pre-treatment and coloration, across five different materials: cotton, polyester, blends, denim and wool. Technologies tested include plasma and laser treatments, spray dyeing, supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) and foam dyeing. The results from the evaluations, as well as next steps for implementation, will be shared in a report in late 2022.

Traditional pre-treatment, coloration and finishing, which occur in Tier 2 of the supply chain often takes place in large tanks or baths which require vast amounts of energy, heat and water. It produces the highest amount of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, 52 percent, in addition to releasing large amounts of toxins into water. One of the key levers to reduce impact is to move from wet processes – to mostly dry processes – innovative processing technologies that require very little to no water and reduced energy.

This shift has the potential to reduce Tier 2 emissions by between 79 and 89 percent and could slash more than a quarter of total GHG emissions in the industry. An equal opportunity exists to reduce water consumption, including savings of up to 83 percent in pre-treatment and 95 percent in dyeing, the consortium said.

At the project close Fashion for Good will share a report with key learnings and next steps for implementation. Simultaneously, Fashion for Good will work with the participating Fashion for Good partners to help facilitate the implementation of these solutions at selected manufacturers. 

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