DIVE DEEPER:

• Textile dyeing and finishing accounts for 20% of the world's clean water pollution. According to Aizome, more than 8,000 synthetic chemicals are commonly used in the textile industry to dye and finish fabrics. These highly toxic substances include neurotoxins and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, causing harm to textile workers, consumers, and the environment. AZO dyes, which comprise up to 70% of all dyes, are known carcinogens.

• Aizome's mission is to revive ancient Japanese indigo dyeing – also known as 'aizome'. Indigo's active compound, known as tryptanthrin, is extracted from the plant's leaves.

• The company sells a range of "healthy textiles" in the form of health-enhancing bedding and accessories, ideal for those with allergies and skin sensitivities. The company uses 100% GOTS-certified organic Indian Cotton for its hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and moisture-absorbing properties. The active components of indigo and other plant-based dyes – such as ruby (red), turmeric (yellow), and sumac – offer anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties respectively.

• Although plant pigments are not new, they are known to fade fast over time, propelling the use of chemical-laden dyes and harmful finishing agents to facilitate mass textile production. Aizome's ultrasound dyeing technology combats this by binding plant pigments to fibre cavities so the colour lasts on the bedding for approximately 20 years (based on a fortnightly wash). 

• Aizome Ultra uses up to 200 times less water than conventional dyeing practices, which require up to 10,000 litres of fresh water per bedding set. Aizome's method also means that the resulting wastewater contains no toxic substances and can be used as a soil fertiliser.

• Using plants for dyeing and skincare "is pretty straightforward and well-established" in ancient Ayurvedic, Chinese, and traditional herbal medicine. Unlike synthetic indigo dye, which is a neurotoxin, May says that using natural indigo dye wastewater to formulate Wastecare is a demonstration of where the industry should be - putting the wellbeing of consumers first.

• The serum is a brown colour, as indigo is inactive and only turns blue when it comes into contact with air. Subramanian explains that "we didn't want to superficially or for aesthetic reasons change the colour in any way because it was important to us that this looked like waste".

• To use Wastecare, the company advises cleansing and drying the face with a towel, and using the pipette to pull the product from its vial, tapping it gently into the skin.

• May says that the concept behind Wastecare demonstrates that "whatever is left over can be sold to the cosmetics industry, so there really isn’t waste, per se".

• Aizome commissioned a study from the University of Cambridge to explore the health benefits of indigo. According to Dr. Youssif M. Ali, a Senior Research Associate, "the study we conducted in cooperation with Aizome clearly shows that the natural plant dye indigo is a promising agent for accelerating dermatological recovery."

• The company is keen to explore the use of other waste streams, particularly from the food and beverage industry, to create upcycled dyes. May says that all dyes currently on the market are made from virgin plants, but orange peels and leftover grapes from wine production could be repurposed as feedstocks for textile dyes. Aizome is also planning to expand into activewear, creating a line of garments using natural fibres and its innovative dyeing method.

• Munich-based Serviceplan Innovation works with impactful startups, creating cornerstone campaigns to "make them seen and heard in the industry". Wastecare is the culmination of a two-year partnership with Aizome.