DyeRecycle advances textile innovation with dye recycling technology

DyeRecycle, based in the United Kingdom, claims to have developed the first technology capable of recycling synthetic dyes from textile waste. DyeRecycle offers two solutions: recycled synthetic dye capable of achieving industry-standard shades, and white dye-free high-value fibers that can be respun into recycled polyester.

This pioneering technology has attracted significant attention from the industry. DyeRecycle has secured $1.2 million in pre-seed funding and an additional $1 million in equity-free match funding from Innovate UK. Notable participants in this funding round include PDS Ventures, Octopus Ventures, Evenlode Foundation, Fashion for Good, and various angel investors from the climate and fashion sectors.

Dr. Aida Abouelela, co-founder of DyeRecycle, highlighted the timeliness of their technology, emphasizing that it aligns with the current maturity of the fiber recycling market.

A significant barrier to textile recycling is the presence of dyes in waste textiles. Conventional mechanical fiber recycling methods often result in final products limited to dark shades or require additional dyeing steps. DyeRecycle’s technology addresses this challenge by providing decolored fibers. DyeRecycle’s proprietary technology combines dye and fabric recycling to develop circular solutions for dyeing using textile waste.

DyeRecycle utilizes green chemistry-based solutions to extract, recover, and recycle dyes from textile waste, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with virgin polyester manufacturing and conventional dyeing processes.

The funding obtained will support DyeRecycle in expanding its production capacity for various pilots, securing additional product development partnerships and trials with supply chain partners and fiber recyclers, and growing its team to facilitate technical and commercial scale-up.