Archroma US presented the “Earthcolors” technology at the recent international conference of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists held in Wilmington, NC. A collaborative program between Archroma and Cotton Incorporated which resulted in a process to dye cotton with cotton.

Archroma has pioneered the concept of using natural wastes and byproducts such as cotton gin wastes, almond shells, plant byproducts and shoots of rosemary to synthesize dyes to color textiles. The technology originally came from Archroma’s unit in Spain.

Archroma collaborated with Cary, NC-based Cotton Incorporated in using sulfur dyes derived from cotton waste and gin waste to color cotton denims.

According to Archroma, use of the new dye process will also allow consumers to trace the entire supply chain from the origins of the dyes and the natural raw material used. Cotton denims dyed with cotton waste will be environmentally and skin friendly and will be entering the market soon.

Mike Tyndall, vice president for product research at Cotton Incorporated, said that this endeavor expands the boundaries of agriculture and utilizes agricultural resources to make dyes that replace petroleum precursors.