Archroma, a global specialty chemicals company based in Prattein, Switzerland, and Cotton Incorporated, a non-profit cotton research and marketing company in Cary, N.C., announced the renewal of an eight-year collaboration to accelerate the shift to a more circular cotton economy.
The two organizations began working together in 2016 when Cotton Incorporated approached Archroma intending to develop a dyestuff from the by-products of cotton production.
The U.S., the world’s third-largest cotton producer and largest exporter produces sustainable cotton fiber for the textile and apparel industry and cottonseed for food and animal feed. Cotton farming and processing also generate by-products, such as burs, stems and leaves, used to create insulation, packaging, erosion control products and more. Cotton Incorporated recognized the potential to use these natural by-products to produce dyes.
The Archroma research team applied its patented EarthColors® technology to create DIRESUL® Earth-Cotton using cotton by-products from the U.S. supply chain. An alternative to the usual oil-based dyes, Earth-Cotton allows brands to offer textile products in warm natural shades, using cotton to create both fabric and dye.
“Cotton is a natural and versatile plant with nearly every part, from hull to seed to fiber utilized. Ideal for a circular economy; the soft and durable cotton fiber, and the rest of the cotton plant are resilient and can be reused and recycled before returning to the earth. Cotton Incorporated is committed to working with innovative leaders like Archroma to continue finding new ways to advance circularity and expand programs using cotton,” says Mary Ankeny, vice president of product development and implementation operations at Cotton Incorporated. “The development of DIRESUL® Earth-Cotton is a clear example of sustainability sparking innovation that delivers value across the whole textile chain – from cotton farmers and textile mills to brands, retailers and consumers. We are excited to continue to exchange ideas and knowledge with Cotton Incorporated as a reliable partner helping lead the textile industry towards a more sustainable future,” says Umberto De Vita, market segment director for denim at Archroma.
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