At the UK’s leading sustainability event, the Textile Engineering and Materials Research Group (TEAM) from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) showcased innovative ways to improve textile recycling rates and encourage eco-friendly dyeing procedures. They discussed partnerships that might offer substitute resources and ways to lessen the negative effects of textile production on the environment. Their initiatives aid in the industry’s shift to circularity.
The inventions showcased under the direction of Professor Jinsong Shen from DMU and Loughborough University included the use of laser technology for textile dyeing. Comparing this method to conventional dyeing methods, the energy, water, and chemical consumption are greatly reduced.Biotechnological methods that use enzymes to color textiles were also presented as sustainable options that save energy and produce less waste from effluent.
A BBSRC-funded initiative led to the development of the biotechnology technique proposed by DMU and Loughborough researchers. This process includes recovering dyes from discarded wool fabrics in powder form, recycling waste wool and wool/bast fiber mixed fabrics, and removing flax and hemp fibers from waste materials. This creative method has the potential to reduce landfill waste, make mixed textile materials recyclable, and dye or print new wool garments using recovered dyes.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to display our innovative technologies in the Innovation Hub Zone at this year’s Future Fabrics Expo,” said Professor Jinsong Shen, who is in charge of DMU’s TEAM.Our dedication to encouraging textile sustainability and assisting the industry’s transition to circular practices is demonstrated by these ground-breaking inventions.
