Project description
Eco-friendly fabric dyeing for a sustainable textile industry
Current fabric dyeing methods have been using high-polluting chemicals for decades and consume large amounts of potable water, with a heavy impact on the environment and society. Funded by the European Research Council, the BIODENIM project aims to develop an eco-friendly textile dyeing method inspired by natural colours existing in nature; more specifically, from the oceans, where colours are abundant. The project aims to reduce water consumption, promote zero waste and eliminate toxic waste during the dyeing process, at the same time increasing the stability and duration of colour even after several washes.
Objective
The environmental and societal impact of fabric dyeing is a critical concern, with the textile industry ranking among the most chemically intensive and the second-largest polluter of clean water globally. Traditional dyeing methods consume large amounts of water and energy, release toxic chemicals, and contribute significantly to environmental degradation. Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable dyeing innovations that reduce chemical usage and conserve water.
In this ERC PoC, we aim to develop and implement a novel eco-friendly textile dyeing method that combines the design of genetically engineered colored proteins with a non-toxic, zero-waste innovative application methodology, eliminating toxic waste and pollution and significantly reducing water consumption.
In this project, we aim to rationally design and express heat-resistant blue chromoproteins (i.e. aeBlue) from the coral Aquinia equina in a bacterial chassis (Escherichia coli). Then, we will demonstrate that they can be bound covalently to cotton fibers to dye the fibers similar to DENIM, using sugar cross-linkers with temperatures above 40 ºC. This biologically inspired protein-based dyeing approach for textiles can be further explored using other chromoproteins found in other organisms, offering a palette of natural colors and opening new avenues for a future sustainable alternative for fabric dyeing. This PoC builds on the findings of the ERC-CoG-funded project BIOMATFAB, which explored sugar uptake and transport in cotton fibers. In collaboration with European textile industry stakeholders, this PoC aims to explore and demonstrate the commercial feasibility of our dyeing methodology. We will aim to understand consumer needs, market segments, and competition to define a robust business model that ensures the long-term sustainability of our commercialization efforts. Our innovative project represents a significant step toward reducing the environmental footprint of the European textile industry.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- engineering and technology materials engineering colors
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- engineering and technology materials engineering textiles
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1099 085 Lisboa
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.