Climate-smart algae dye for textile dyeing
A bio-based textile dye made from microalgae could be the next step towards a more sustainable textile industry. Textile dyeing is known as one of the most environmentally damaging processes in the textile value chain. With locally produced algae ink and a resource-efficient dyeing method that requires less water, Mounid, together with Wargön Innovation, has sought and found an alternative to conventional dye for the textile and fashion industry.
The textile industry is responsible for emissions equivalent to around 10% of the world's total climate impact each year. Of this volume, almost 80 percent of the climate impact arises in production, of which conventional textile dyeing is by far the most burdensome part with 23.5 percent. Textile dyeing thus accounts for almost two percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. It also requires large amounts of chemicals, water and energy. But we are getting closer to a locally produced solution - an ink made from microalgae that is both non-toxic and degradable.
It is the start-up company Mounid, headed by founder Ida Näslund, that came up with the idea of algae ink for textile dyeing.
- I am basically a textile designer and in my work as a designer I think it is important to work with materials and methods that are as environmentally friendly as possible, and that is how the idea for a non-toxic alternative made from microalgae arose, says Ida Näslund.
In the photo: Julia Ronkainen and Ida Näslund
Bio-based alternative to traditional textile dyeing
Within the project Algae Ink for Textile Dyeing, the aim has been to introduce a more resource-efficient and resilient value chain for textile dyeing. By using Mounid's algae ink in combination with Imogo's digital spray technology, the environmental impact is significantly reduced. Water and energy consumption as well as CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 90% compared to conventional dyeing.
- "Most people know that dyeing textiles is a very environmentally damaging process with a lot of toxic chemicals involved, so in this project we have looked at a bio-based alternative to textile dyeing and the algae ink could be such an alternative," says Julia Ronkainen, project manager at Wargön Innovation.
Patent approval paves the way for further development
The project, which was very successful, has now been completed and the development of the algae ink has made several steps forward in its process towards commercialization. As a result of the work, among other things, a production unit has been developed that can start manufacturing the algae ink, an industrialization plan has been designed and a life cycle assessment has been successfully carried out. In addition, four prototypes have been developed in collaboration with the project partners - cotton t-shirts from Fristads, wool socks from Woolpower, acoustic panels from BAUX and cotton baby underwear from Martinson. Another success for Mounid during the project is the granting of a first patent.
- The work on the algae ink does not stop here! We continue our cooperation with Mounid, new possibilities for the algae ink have been discovered during the project and we look forward to following the development," concludes Julia Ronkainen.
Wargön Innovation has been the project manager for Algae Ink for Textile Dyeing and one of the driving forces in the product development of the algae ink. The project was funded by Vinnova in the area of Sustainable Industry. Participants in the project have been Baux AB, HejMar AB, Imogo AB, IVL Svenska Miljöinsitutet AB, Mounid AB, Sjuhäradsbygdens Färgeri AB, Woolpower Östersund AB, Miljösus AB, StromTech Sweden AB and Wargön Innovation.