Scientists at Australia’s national science agency (CSIRO) believe that they have discovered a way to alter the molecular code of cotton so that it grows in a range of colours, so avoiding the need to dye it with artificial and unsustainable products.
Cotton-dying tends to take place in developing countries such as Bangladesh, China and India and usually involves the use of toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, with the process often resulting in environmental pollution thanks to waste being dumped into local waterways rather than being properly managed, as well as harm to workers, with the dyes linked to cancer and other diseases.
But now the scientists hope that their coloured cotton plants can be spun into fibres for clothing and textiles with no further colouring necessary, a development that if successful could be key to making the global fashion industry more sustainable – although a return to natural dyes is one solution, it could be more cost-effective and therefore desirable to grow pre-coloured cotton.
It has been noted that this genetic modification of a crop might not be the perfect answer, due to the negative, unintended consequences linked to the use of GM crops, but with the right approach and application it could be a huge step in the right direction for fashion.
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Scientists at Australia’s national science agency (CSIRO) believe that they have discovered a way to alter the molecular code of cotton so that it grows in a range of colours, so avoiding the need to dye it with artificial and unsustainable products.
Cotton-dying tends to take place in developing countries such as Bangladesh, China and India and usually involves the use of toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, with the process often resulting in environmental pollution thanks to waste being dumped into local waterways rather than being properly managed, as well as harm to workers, with the dyes linked to cancer and other diseases.
But now the scientists hope that their coloured cotton plants can be spun into fibres for clothing and textiles with no further colouring necessary, a development that if successful could be key to making the global fashion industry more sustainable – although a return to natural dyes is one solution, it could be more cost-effective and therefore desirable to grow pre-coloured cotton.
It has been noted that this genetic modification of a crop might not be the perfect answer, due to the negative, unintended consequences linked to the use of GM crops, but with the right approach and application it could be a huge step in the right direction for fashion.