H&M Group Testing CO2-Driven Sustainable Dyeing Solution
H&M Group is tapping into a disruptive new technology that will allow it to replace conventional chemical-driven dye processes.
The Swedish fast fashion firm announced plans to test Deven Supercriticals’ Suprauno technology, which uses Supercritical CO2—carbon dioxide in a fluid state—instead of water and chemical compounds to dye fabrics. The group will conduct these trials with its longstanding factory partner, India’s Arvind Ltd.
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According to the partners, previous prototyping using Suprauno has yielded promising results when it comes to energy, water and chemical use reduction. Deven Supercriticals’ testing on poly-cotton blended fabrics showed water savings of 76 percent, energy savings of 67 percent and 90 percent fewer chemicals used.
“We are very excited about this partnership that we are about to begin,” H&M Group India country manager Omang Narang said. “Supporting and investing in new technologies like this play a key part in finding scalable solutions to help us in our goals to reduce by 56 percent our greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce by 30 percent the freshwater extraction and consumption in our supply chain by 2030.”
Much of the apparel industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions stem from Scope 3 operations—namely, the making of fibers, processing of materials and dyeing of fabrics. As such, H&M said it is intent on addressing the impacts from these elements of the apparel value chain.
The COS, & Other Stories and Weekday parent company has been sourcing apparel from India for three decades. Having built long-term relationships with its Indian suppliers, the group said it is committed to bettering the local market through green investments and decarbonization efforts.
“This partnership is a great example of how we can move the needle thanks to our long-term relationships with suppliers and innovators who share our values and climate ambitions,” Narang added.
Calling the effort “a pioneering initiative in sustainable textile production,” Arvind Ltd. vice chairman and executive director Punit Lalbhai said the partnership “signifies a bold commitment to reducing energy, water and chemical footprint of textiles.”
“By joining forces with brands and innovators, we exemplify the collective effort needed to tackle the climate crisis,” he added. “Together, we weave a future where fashion and sustainability coexist seamlessly, setting a new standard for the industry.”
“We are very grateful to H&M Group and Arvind Ltd. for this path breaking collaboration towards the implementation of our innovative, waterless dyeing and finishing technology Suprauno, on commercial scale,” Deven Supercriticals Pvt. Ltd. founder and managing director Swapneshu Baser said.
The internationally patented technology “for the first time in the world, allows waterless dyeing of various natural and man-made textiles as well as their blends, using conventional dyes and their tri-chrome recipes,” he explained.
The technology can be used on fabrics like cotton, polyester, nylon, viscose, linen, silk, acrylic and other blends. “This results in saving not only water and energy but also hazardous chemicals, thus effectively preserving the environment and health.”
