WHAT IS SAGES NATURAL DYE?

Sages' pigment is a textile dye created entirely from food waste combined with natural renewables like salt. The company has already manufactured 12 different colours made from pre-sorted fruit and veg waste, like cast-off beetroots from farmers or avocado skins from a guacamole manufacturer. Getting the ingredients pre-sorted helps achieve the consistent colours needed for a reliable dye, and all waste is sourced directly from farms and supermarkets within a 15 kilometre radius of London, as well as food processing plants like Agave Networks.

Rather than chemicals, the proprietary process to make the pigments - which took over two years to develop - leaves only filtered and uncontaminated water behind, which can be used again and again. The company also claims to have developed a fully environmentally friendly fixative and is continuing its research and development efforts to create dyes that can fully match the colour and UV fastness of synthetic dyes.

Sages’ pigments can be integrated into existing dye processes, with a short 10-15 minute dyeing cycle offering high colour strength and fastness. They can be used on a wide range of textile materials.

Sages is part-funded and looking for more partners across the industry. It has another 30 colours in development and is hoping to improve its production capacity and move to an ambitious, socially progressive model of community dye hubs, boosting local economies and further reducing the product’s transportation footprint. It is one of six winners of the first Circular Fashion Innovator Fund supported by eBay UK and the British Fashion Council.