Led by the younger generations, consumers today are more vocal than ever about environmental causes. Many now also factor sustainability into their purchase decisions and expect businesses to be involved and help solve big challenges, like climate change.
Achieving truly green fashion is a complex and multi-faceted challenge, but the textile and apparel industry has made great strides towards sustainability in recent years.
Step change in sustainable dyeing
Released in 2010, the AVITERA® SE dye range revolutionized cellulosic (CO) processing by delivering both performance and sustainability. Developed by Huntsman Textile Effects and based on the first new reactive dye molecules to be invented for almost two decades, the AVITERA® SE dyes allow mills to dramatically reduce the dyeing and washing-off cycle, offering water and energy savings of up to 50% and slashing carbon emissions by up to 50% as well.
The breakthrough AVITERA® SE dyes are poly-reactive and have a high diffusion rate and a fixation rate that is very close to the exhaustion rate. This means that only a very small amount of the hydrolyzed (or water-diluted) dye remains on the fabric to get washed off. This hydrolyzed dye can thus be removed using less water and at a much lower temperature.
The ongoing evolution of CO dyeing
While the first-generation AVITERA® SE dyes set the benchmark for sustainability in the textile industry, the second generation expanded the range’s color palette from the palest to the deepest and darkest shades. With the recent release of AVITERA® ROSE SE, the third generation of the revolutionary dye range, Huntsman Textile Effects has further enhanced the economic sustainability of AVITERA® and delivered unrivalled environmental benefits, outstanding operational performance and exceptional overall fastness.
Improved economic sustainability
Offering long-lasting brilliancy across a broad gamut of bluish-red shades, AVITERA® ROSE SE brings eco-friendly performance and cost savings together. The innovative new dye significantly outperforms the best available dyeing technologies for CO fibres and blends.
AVITERA® ROSE SE not only slashes the water and energy required for production, but also delivers excellent right-first-time performance, with outstanding compatibility, levelling properties and on-tone build-up. The cost-effective formulation reduces recipe costs for medium-dark shades while both minimizing processing costs and eliminating reprocessing. It also increases mill output by up to 25% or more.
The dyes further offer very good light fastness levels and exceptional overall fastness. With minimal chance of cross-staining, they are ideal for red-white striped cotton knit fabric.
Sustainability credentials
The AVITERA® dyes are part of the Huntsman’s HIGH IQ® Lasting Color Eco color-retention program. They can be used to produce textiles with high chlorine resistance, so they retain their intense color even after repeated home laundering.
For example, Huntsman has combined the HIGH IQ® color-retention program with its AVITERA® BLACK SE reactive dye to help mills, brands and retailers meet global demand for eco-friendly deep black shades that look newer for longer. Mills following the HIGH IQ® Lasting Black Eco program also reduce their environmental footprint, using less water and energy in processing, and can produce fabrics and garments free from p-chloroaniline (PCA), at the current detection limit of 5 ppm.
Like all products in the HIGH IQ® quality assurance program, the AVITERA® SE range is fully compliant with the most stringent industry and brand-specific restricted substances lists. It is bluesign®-approved and is suitable for STANDARD 100 by OKEO-TEX®-certified textile products.
As brands increasingly need to show consumers that their commitment to sustainability stands up to scrutiny, certifications like these are becoming even more important. Businesses that can reach these standards in an economical way will safeguard their bottom line and be part of protecting the Earth for future generations.
This article first appeared on Ecotextile.
Anish Paliwal, Global Marketing Manager – CEL & DA, Huntsman Textile Effects