DyeCoo Textile Systems
Conventional textile dyeing approaches are extremely water-intense, using anywhere from 25 to 40 gallons for every two pounds of fabric.
Technology from DyeCoo Textile Systems, already used by the likes of Nike (an investor along with IKEA) and Adidas, uses a carbon-based process to accomplish the same thing. It works by converting carbon dioxide into a liquid under extreme pressure and heat, which is substituted for water. As the liquid cools, it turns back into gas, and it can be reused. Nike's new plant in Taiwan is entirely dedicated to the process, which it calls ColorDry.
“Compared to traditional dyeing methods, the ColorDry process reduces dyeing time by 40 percent, energy use by around 60 percent and the required factory footprint by a quarter. It’s also the most saturated, intense and consistent color we’ve seen,” said Kuenlin Ho, executive vice president of Far Eastern New Century, which is Nike's contract manufacturer there.