IRIS

IRIS: A Prism for Safe and Sustainable Colouration of Cellulosics

Project details

Type of project
Innovation Action - Demonstration
Feedstock origin
Sidestreams from industry
Feedstock type
Industrial waste streams
Project period
1 September 2026 - 31 August 2030
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 6 999 946,35
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025

Summary

The textile industry remains heavily reliant on fossil-derived synthetic dyes. While efforts to transition towards sustainable alternatives continue, bio-based colourants currently account for only a marginal portion of the market (approximately 1%). Ongoing initiatives remain fragmented, focused on specific technologies, and lack scalability and comprehensive integration. 

IRIS aims to transform textile colouration into a safe, circular, and resource-efficient process by advancing BioIndigo, an encapsulated bio-based dyes, as well as other microbial and enzymatic dyes and encapsulated pigments derived from forestry and agriculture waste side-streams and captured CO₂. It also promotes environmentally friendly dyeing and printing methods that reduce water, chemical, and energy use in textile manufacturing, as well as that address the challenges associated with the circularity and recyclability of the textile products.  

The project will set a new benchmark for sustainable textile processing by scaling up bio-based colourants that deliver measurable environmental benefits, enabling a wider adoption of bio-based dyes and supporting circular textile value chains.

  • Promote the use of safer, bio-based colourants as alternatives to conventional synthetic dyes and auxiliaries. 
  • Explore eco-friendly dyeing and printing processes, including approaches that reduce reliance on hazardous substances. 
  • Support the scale-up and validation of promising technologies, such as bio-based indigo, microbial dyes from CO2, enzymatic dyeing, encapsulated bio-based dyes and bio-based prints. 
  • Ensure that the new solutions are compatible with existing textile manufacturing, enabling easier industry uptake. 
  • Contribute to improved product circularity, including recyclability and colour removal at end-of-life. 

  • Advance the development and demonstration of bio-based colourants and processes within textile value chains. 
  • Reduce reliance on fossil-based and potentially hazardous substances in textile colouration. 
  • Contribute to reduced environmental impacts, including lower emissions and resource use, compared to conventional textile colouring practices, with IRIS innovations targeting greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the range of 40–70%, depending on the application and technology, and up to 15% less dye released to effluent. 
  • Support improved end-of-life options, such as recycling and material recovery, ensuring at least 80% recyclability in designated routes. 
  • Encourage textile industry adoption of bio-based innovations through business cases, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration. 
  • Improve occupational health and community well-being by reducing worker exposure to hazardous chemicals commonly used during colourant production and dyeing/printing processes. 
  • Contribute to skills development, innovation, and new market opportunities within the EU bioeconomy. 

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB Boras, Sweden

Consortium

  • Tally Weijl Trading AG Basel, Switzerland
  • CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DE L INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE GENT, Belgium
  • POST CARBON LAB LTD London, United Kingdom
  • PILI TOULOUSE, France
  • NOURYON SURFACE CHEMISTRY AB Göteborg, Sweden
  • BIOSPHERE SRL CESENA, Italy
  • NEXT TECHNOLOGY TECNOTESSILE SOCIETA NAZIONALE DI RICERCA R L PRATO, Italy
  • NordicBlue Humlebæk, Denmark
  • NEAGU ALEXANDRU-VALENTIN De Bilt, Netherlands
  • VIVIDYE AB GOTEBORG, Sweden
  • AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR Espoo, Finland
  • ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA PER LA RICERCA INDUSTRIALE - AIRI ROMA, Italy
  • UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI VENEZIA VENEZIA, Italy
  • BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZW DESTELDONK GENT, Belgium
  • NUEVAS TECNOLOGIAS PARA EL DESARROLLO DE PACKAGING Y PRODUCTOS AGROALIMENTARIOS CON COMPONENTE PLASTICA SL Zaragoza, Spain
  • CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB GOTEBORG, Sweden
  • ELYAF TEKSTIL SANAYI VE TICARET AS KESTEL, Türkiye