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Dyeing/​Finishing/​Printing

Natural is the new black

Plant-based and natural dyes are sustainably derived, non-toxic and biodegradable and can be applied to any fabric type.

14th July 2022

Innovation in Textiles
 |  New York City

Clothing/​Footwear, Sustainable

Only months after announcing five new, sustainable, plant-based technologies, including a range of natural dyes,  New York-based Moonlight Technologies is launching 100% plant-based and natural black dyes.

Two of the major impediments in adopting natural dyes are the limited colour range, specifically the inability to use a natural black dye, and the expensive cost associated with them, the company says.

“This is a major breakthrough for us as well as other businesses and consumers who are passionate about sustainability and interested in adopting natural dyes,” said Allie Sutton, CEO of Moonlight Technologies. “Until now, most natural dyes only offered a limited colour range and no black. If you wanted black, you needed to resort to unnatural, synthetic dyes, which in many cases are not environmentally friendly.”

Humans are exposed to the synthetic chemicals of unnatural dyes through the air, skin, and water,and even through eating exposed fish and plants. Because most synthetic dyes are not biodegradable, the dying process may discharge many harmful chemicals through the release of polluted water, which can result in the death of aquatic life, the ruin of soils and the poisoning of drinking water.

While priced competitively to other synthetic powdered dyes, these plant-based and natural black dyes are sustainably derived, non-toxic and biodegradable and can be applied to any fabric type – both synthetic and natural – via standard manufacturing processes. Moonlight Technologies’ product lifecycle is also said to be carbon negative.

www.moonlighttech.co

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