Manchester-based John Hogg Technical Solutions has announced a major minority investment in SwitchDye, a spin-out company from the University of Leeds. SwitchDye has created a CO2-responsive dyeing system that helps reduce chemical usage, energy consumption, and water use in the dyeing of polyester and other synthetic fibres. Through this partnership, the company aims to expand its operations and test the technology in real textile mill environments.

Professor Nick Plant, pro-vice-chancellor of research and innovation at the University of Leeds, said that SwitchDye’s innovative polyester dyeing technology could support the growth of a more sustainable and circular textile industry. He added that the development reflects the strong research talent and innovation support available within the university.

Under the partnership, John Hogg will contribute technical knowledge, manufacturing support, product stewardship expertise, and customer connections to help SwitchDye move quickly from laboratory development to industrial-scale production.

SwitchDye has redesigned dye chemistry to allow large-scale textile dyeing using carbonated water. The company’s CO2-responsive system pushes colour into the fibre while greatly reducing the need for additional chemicals. According to tests, the process can eliminate additives that usually make up nearly 90% of the total chemical content, while still maintaining normal performance standards.

The system can further simplify production by reducing rinse cycles and shortening processing times. As a result, it lowers overall resource consumption compared to traditional polyester dyeing methods, including approximately 40% lower water use along with noticeable energy savings. Since the process is reversible, colour can also be removed more easily at the end of a product’s life, helping support textile-to-textile recycling.