FuntureTex: Exploring Fungal Colorants for Innovative Textile Dyeing with Doping Technology

The textile industry is one of the largest environmental polluters, primarily due to its water-intensive dyeing processes and the waste-water release of synthetic colorants which are harmful to the environment and human health. While there are efforts to improve sustainability, few solutions address both water usage and the need for renewable alternatives to synthetic dyes.
FuntureTex presents an innovative solution by implementing fungal-based colorants with the doping dyeing process. Fungal colorants are renewable and biodegradable, providing a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. The doping process is a water-saving technique where colorants are integrated directly into textile fibers during their production, eliminating the need for traditional water-dependent dyeing steps. This method reduces water use by up to 90% compared to conventional dyeing, as no water is required to rinse or fix the dye. Til date, although efforts have been made on incorporating biobased substances in dope dyeing, the use of natural, especially fungal colorants, has not yet been done.
In this project, the consortium will combine forces to improve dope dyeing by using fungal colorants. Key technologies including fermentation and green chemistry will be applied throughout the project. Firstly, the colorants will be produced via fermentation and treated with sustainable downstream processing methods. Afterwards, the colorants will be integrated into polymers and yarned as textile materials by using the dope dyeing method. The project results will be disseminated to professional fields to gain insights in business potentials. Students will be involved through the project to broaden the impact.
The FuntureTex consortium is made by experts in areas of fungal colorants, dope dyeing and business outlook, ensuring a proper execution of the project. In line with the EU’s goal of circular and sustainable economy, the research result will bring a potential dual solution to the environmental challenges of textile industries.