Archroma partners with Jeanologia to launch water-efficient denim dyeing process

The specialty chemicals company Archroma has collaborated with the finishing technology firm Jeanologia to take sustainable dyeing and finishing to a new level. The two pioneering companies in their spaces have launched Pad-Ox G2 Cold, a room-temperature dyeing process that drastically reduces water usage.

When this technology was launched in 2019, it was originally for woven fabrics. This new innovation combines the steps of oxidation and fixation, which makes it possible to shorten the dyeing process and reduce waste-water, water, cotton waste, and energy.

Archroma is using its Diresul range of low-sulfide sulfur dyes and plant-based EarthColors dyes to maximize the positive impact of the Pad-Ox process. A portion of the above-mentioned dyes has received the Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation Institute’s Platinum Level Material Health Certification.

The benefits of Pad-Ox are intensified by Jeanologia’s innovative G2 Dynamic technology that uses ozone to prepare fabric for finishing treatments including laser. This technology developed in 2008 but has been recently featured in “sanitization boxes,” which was developed by Jeanologia to clean plastic face shields for emergency workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

For improving fabric fastness which is the resistance of a fabric to change color, now this technology is combined with Pad-Ox at room temperature. This significantly reduces the usage of water and chemicals resulting in softer garments with greater color durability to repetitive washing and solidity against rubbing than other wash-out processes.

The business director of G2 Dynamic at Jeanologia, Jean Pierre Inchauspe said that the partnership is a new step in changing the traditional, more polluting, and water-consuming processes with the new ones using technology. Companies adopting this new process will result in increased competitiveness, productivity and will offer a completely sustainable product with high quality.

For the Pad-Ox G2 Cold, there is only a requirement of insertion of small machinery into the existing finishing range process. This new technology complements both companies’ aggressive sustainability targets that include Archroma’s plans to cut water intensity to 16.6 cubic meters per ton of production by 2023 and Jeanologia’s pledge to dehydrate and detoxify the denim industry with its Mission Zero plan by 2025.