Sparxell introduces first plant-based structural colour ink for commercial use

Sparxell introduces first plant-based structural colour ink for commercial use

Sparxell introduces first plant-based structural colour ink for commercial use

Sparxell introduces first plant-based structural colour ink for commercial use

Cambridge-based start-up Sparxell will next month begin selling what it claims is the world_s first commercially available_ plant-derived structural colour ink for textiles. The launch_ produced in partnership with manufacturing specialist Positive Materials_ offers fashion brands a dye-free alternative that promises sharp reductions in water_ energy and chemical inputs.

The initial release_ Sparxell_s signature blue_ will be offered in matte and shimmer finishes and can be ordered in kilogram quantities from the end of June 2025. Printing will be handled by Positive Materials_ which is preparing an all-over printed cotton jersey for European distribution in September. Additional colours are scheduled to follow later in the year.

Unlike conventional pigments_ Sparxell_s colour is generated by engineering plant-based cellulose at the microscale_ mimicking the light-scattering structures found in Morpho butterfly wings. The process eliminates synthetic dyes_ mined minerals and petroleum-based plastics while meeting industry durability standards_ according to the company.

“For too long_ the textile industry had no choice other than to accept that vibrant colours meant environmental damage_” said Sparxell chief executive Dr Benjamin Droguet. “Our bio-inspired technology shatters that assumption_ delivering exceptional results from plant-based cellulose.”

Positive Materials co-chief executive Elsa Parente added that the partnership lets designers “order the most sustainable colourant options as easily as conventional alternatives_ but with the added benefit of 100 per cent biodegradable pigments free from toxic chemicals.”

Industry demand for lower-impact colouration is rising as regulators and investors focus on pollution. The sector employs more than 10_000 chemicals and releases an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of dyes each year_ accounting for roughly 2 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions. Sparxell_ which recently secured a 1.9 million euro grant from the European Innovation Council and joined LVMH_s La Maison des Startups accelerator_ is positioning its technology as a scalable response to those pressures.