Biological and sustainable textile coloration with live microorganisms
TL;DR
An overview of microbial textile coloration is provided, covering both the scientific landscape, and the current commercial development as sustainable alternatives to synthetic dyes.
Abstract
The textile industry reliance on synthetic colors has had a significant impact on our health and the environment. Microorganisms produce a whole spectrum of colored molecules, biopigments, which can be used as a promising source of natural and sustainable textile colorants. Biopigments can be extracted and applied as direct substitutes for synthetic dyes. Nevertheless, the approach of greatest innovative and environmental relevance is textile dyeing with live microbial cultures, where fermentation and textile dyeing are simultaneous. Being a biological process driven by microbial metabolism, dyeing with live cultures operates under mild conditions, eliminating the need for high energy input, hazardous chemicals, heavy metal mordants, and excessive water consumption. As such, it offers considerable environmental and economic advantages. The integration of microbial systems into textile dyeing holds significant potential for reducing the environmental burden of the textile industry, advancing its transition toward a more sustainable and circular production model. This article provides an overview of microbial textile coloration, covering both the scientific landscape, and the current commercial development as sustainable alternatives to synthetic dyes.