Press Release
Cambridge/Norwich, United Kingdom — Earthshot prize finalist Colorifix, the first company to use a biological process to produce, deposit and fix pigments to textiles, has been accredited with the OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification. This recognition, audited by the renowned testing service provider and research partner Hohenstein, underscores Colorifix’s unwavering commitment to safe and eco-friendly chemical solutions for a better future.
In response to the environmental impact of conventional textile dyeing practices, which annually produce over 100 billion articles of clothing, consume vast amounts of water, and rely on petrochemical dyes and harmful chemicals, Colorifix’s synthetic biology method stands as a beacon of sustainability. Colorifix uses DNA sequences from nature and microorganisms to create vibrant colours, reducing water consumption by 80%1 compared to traditional methods, all while ensuring that the textiles remain safe for human use.
The OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification confirms that Colorifix’s culture media and dyes satisfy the Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) and Zero Discharge Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) conformance level 3 criteria, the highest level, meeting the guidelines for safer textile chemistries and verifying that the substances are being manufactured responsibly. This shows that Colorifix’s products are entirely free from
substances harmful to human health when applied to textiles, reinforcing the mission to redefine the textile industry’s future.
“We are delighted to receive the ECO PASSPORT certification, which reinforces our dedication to a transparent and safe use of chemicals in textile dyeing. In a world rife with greenwashing, it is incredibly important to validate every claim, from safety to impact. We are extremely proud to validate our eco-credentials with one of the strictest bodies in the industry.” said Orr Yarkoni CEO and co-founder of Colorifix. ” This shows our innovative approach not only reduces the environmental impact but also ensures the utmost safety for consumers. Thanks to our great partnership with Hohenstein, this certification creates further confidence in our solution, which is vital as we scale our technology to have a true impact on this industry.”
John Murphy, Technical Director for Hohenstein Europe further comments “Hohenstein is delighted to congratulate Colorifix on their successful ECO PASSPORT certification, The systematic testing promotes confidence, compliance and cost efficiency in the textile Industry. Thank you to the team at Colorifix, for trusting us with your ECO PASSPORT certification.”
In partnership with Hohenstein, Colorifix has pioneered the first biological dye safety testing programme which incorporates biocompatibility tests for skin allergenicity, skin irritation and cytotoxicity, setting a new standard in the textile industry.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Nora Eslander
nora.eslander@colorifix.com
Image bank here, please credit any imagery used to Colorifix Ltd.
1 Data from Colorifix’s latest life cycle assessment performed for two different dyeing processes: conventional and Colorifix®. The study included the two stages: dyeing and final washes, performed on 1 Kg of knit jersey 52% recycled cotton 48% recycled polyester by a third party specialist: https://colorifix.com/app/uploads/2022/12/colorifixenvironmental-impact.pdf
About Colorifix
Colorifix is a Norfolk, England-based biotechnology company that pioneered the first entirely biological process for producing and fixing pigments onto textiles. Fusing advanced technology and age-old processes from nature it offers the most scalable, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional dyeing technologies by cutting out harmful chemicals and significantly reducing consumption of water and energy. Fashion brands such as H&M,Pangaia and Vollebak have launched garments dyed with the Colorifix technology and in 2023 Colorifix was announced as a finalist for the Earthshot Prize in the category “Build a waste-free world”.
About ‘ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®’
‘ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®’ is a globally recognized certification that verifies the safety and environmental sustainability of chemicals, colorants, and auxiliaries used in the textile and leather industry. It confirms that products are free from substances harmful to human health when applied to textiles.
www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/oeko-tex-eco-passport
About the Hohenstein Textile Institute
For more than 75 years, Hohenstein has specialised in testing, certification and research of textile products. As an internationally recognised partner, Hohenstein supports companies along the value chain in successfully bringing products to market – from sharing new findings from the research to independent testing and certification, to claim support and marketing at the point of sale. Now managed by the third generation, more than 1,150 employees at the headquarters in Bönnigheim, Germany, as well as in the laboratories and offices around the world, work on customised testing and services for all unique requirements.
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