Botanical Dyes for the Textile Industry from Food Waste

Makepeace Botanics is a new company pioneering botanical dyes for use in the textile industry, utilising raw materials sourced primarily from UK food manufacturing waste streams. By repurposing these discarded materials, (such as onion, pomegranate, and avocado skins) to produce a broad range of highly-desirable natural colours, Makepeace Botanics is contributing to the circular economy, while reducing the negative environmental and health impacts of synthetic dyes, typically produced from petrochemicals.

With a keen focus on creating a vibrant palette of diverse, beautiful, and fashion-forward colours that offer greater depth and softness compared to their flat chemical counterparts, our initiative aims to revolutionise textile coloration. Unlike synthetic dyes, which can contribute to water pollution, harm ecosystems, and pose potential risks to wearers' skin and health, Makepeace Botanics natural dyes sourced from food waste provide a more sustainable and healthier alternative.

While botanical dyes are eco-friendly, their scalability is often hindered by the cost and availability of raw materials, which could strain food production if widely adopted. Makepeace Botanics tackles this problem by utilising abundant and cost-effective by-products from the food industry, ensuring both environmental responsibility and economic feasibility.