4A1_0247_ COMPOSTING TO COLORANTS: A NOVEL APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULARITY

This project was an attempt to apply innovative ideas and methods to tackling textile waste by building on existing knowledge and approaches. Fabric waste generated at the design stage was biodegraded, and the compost was used as an addition to agriculture growth media to cultivate natural dye plants. The dye plants were then used to extract dyes as potential substitutes for synthetic dyes. The paradigm shift was to demonstrate the potential for transforming fabric waste from any point in the supply chain to create new materials, specifically natural colorants that can be used to reduce pollution at the manufacturing stage.