H&M Group testing ‘disruptive’ tech to reduce eco impact of dyeing process

Swedish fashion conglomerate H&M Group is testing a new "waterless" dyeing alternative by Indian start-up Deven Supercriticals at its partner factory Arvind Ltd to reduce energy, water and chemical use during the dyeing process.

H&M Group announced plans to conduct trials of the new Suprauno dyeing technology at Arvind Ltd which uses supercritical CO2 instead of traditional water and other chemicals for dyeing fabrics.

H&M Group explained that most of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions occur during fibre production, material processing and fabric dyeing. It emphasised its support for Suprauno, citing its promising results in reducing energy, water, and chemical usage.

Omang Narang, country manager H&M Group production in India, believes that supporting and investing in new technologies like this plays a key part in finding scalable solutions.

He added these efforts are aimed at assisting H&M Group in achieving its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 56%, and freshwater extraction and consumption by 30% within its supply chain by 2030.

Arvind Ltd vice-chairman and executive director Punit Lalbhai said: “The collaboration between Arvind Ltd., H&M Group, and Deven Supercriticals marks a pioneering initiative in sustainable textile production. By introducing Suprauno, an innovative technology leveraging Supercritical CO2 for fabric dyeing, this 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. Together, we weave a future where fashion and sustainability coexist seamlessly, setting a new standard for the industry.”

Swapneshu Baser, founder and managing director of Deven Supercriticals Pvt. Ltd added: “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. Suprauno is an internationally patented technology that, 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. This results in saving not only water and energy but also hazardous chemicals, thus effectively preserving the environment and health.”

H&M Group shared it has been sourcing from India for three decades and has built long-term relationships with its suppliers with the commitment to achieving a more sustainable fashion future.

It added, this includes dedicating green investments to speed up the decarbonisation of its business.