Huue, a San Francisco-based developer of sustainable bio-based dyes, has raised $17.6 million in capital to accelerate its commercial scale-up.

Huue manufactures indigo that is just as effective for denim as conventional methods but without the environmental impact and toxic chemicals. The company's enzymatically manufactured dye mirrors how colors are formed in nature and, as a bio-based technology, is a one-to-one replacement for the conventional denim production method.

Huue has announced a bio-manufacturing collaboration with Agile BioFoundry, as well as a collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks to speed commercialization. The company's first emphasis is indigo for denim, the world's most popular garment item, but the technology's potential is thought to extend beyond indigo and the fashion business, with possible future uses for food and beverage and personal care firms.

Michelle Zhu, CEO of Huue, said that the world cannot wait for sustainable solutions, and customers are beginning to hold their favorite businesses accountable for utilizing eco-friendly materials in their goods. They've discovered a method to use biology's creativity to generate clean color solutions that are free of environmental effects and dangerous chemicals. They're thrilled to be able to accelerate with the help of existing and new investors who share their vision for a sustainable and scalable future for consumer products.

Corinna Chen, partner at investor Material Impact, said that at Material Impact, they seek profound tech innovation with the potential to tackle serious global challenges. Huue's game-changing method of bio-based dye synthesis is a major changer for sectors under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. The market launch is ideally timed, and they are happy to be collaborating with this outstanding team to scale up and commercialize the future dye.