Dyes specialist Archroma has utilised its new FiberColors technology to create dyes that are synthesised for at least 50% from selected textile waste.

Archroma’s new range using FiberColors is registered under the Diresul trademark and features five introductory shades: Fiber-Teak (shades of brown), Fiber-Ochre (shades of olive green), Fiber-Maroon (shades of burgundy), Fiber-Slate (shades of blue grey) and Fiber-Graphite (shades of dark grey). The dyes are suitable for use with yarn made from cotton, viscose, linen and kapok (derived from the eponymous South American fruit). Possible applications of these yarns include the making of t-shirts, chinos, sweatshirts, hoodies and polos, as well as household linen.

The technology behind Archroma’s new range is based on the ability to extract colours from used garments made of cotton and/or polyamide, when the colours’ purity is higher than 95%. A capacity that is expected to enable Archroma to replace “the bulk” of the petroleum-derived raw materials which are normally utilised to produce dyes for the textile industry.