UK’ leading sustainability exhibition, the Future Fabrics Expo unveiled innovative methods to promote textile recycling and eco-friendly dyeing techniques using lasers and enzymes. The event featured over 10,000 varied textiles and solutions designed to help the fashion industry adopt sustainable materials and move towards circular practices.
Among the exhibitors were the Textile Engineering and Materials Research Group (TEAM) from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), showcasing collaborations that offer alternative materials and solutions to reduce the environmental impact of textile production and facilitate the industry's transition to circularity.
Professor Jinsong Shen, DMU, along with Loughborough University, highlighted innovations such as laser technology for dyeing textiles. This method significantly reduces energy, water, and chemical consumption compared to traditional techniques. Additionally, biotechnological approaches using enzymes for dyeing textiles provide a sustainable alternative, resulting in energy savings and reduced effluent waste.
Supported by industrial partners such as Camira Fabrics, the Woolmark Company, and Fox Brothers and Co, researchers from DMU and Loughborough University presented a groundbreaking biotechnology approach developed through a BBSRC-funded project. This initiative involves recycling waste wool and wool/bast fiber mixed fabrics, separating flax and hemp fibers from the waste, and recovering dyes in powder form from discarded wool fabrics. The recovered dyes can potentially be used to dye or print new wool fabrics, making mixed textile materials recyclable and reducing landfill waste.
The expo attracted a diverse audience eager to explore environmentally friendly solutions to the challenges facing the fashion industry, particularly the significant environmental footprint of traditional dyeing processes, which consume large amounts of water and energy.
Expressing enthusiasm about showcasing their innovative technologies in the Innovation Hub Zone at this year's Future Fabrics Expo, Professor Jinsong Shen, Head, TEAM-DMU, said, these pioneering innovations demonstrate University’s commitment to promote textile sustainability and support the industry’s shift towards circular practices.
