IN TRANSIT Project – BIORE-DYE

Biotechnological innovation for a more sustainable fashion industry

Out of the 72 proposals submitted to the IN TRANSIT project call, funded by the European Commission through H2020, we are proud to announce that BIORE-DYE has been selected as one of the winning projects.

For 4 months, Care Applications® (Spain) and Vienna Textile Lab (Austria) combined their expertise to take on this innovative challenge, merging biotechnology and advanced textile processes to transform the way garments are dyed.

The challenge: rethinking textile dyeing

The main goal of BIORE-DYE is twofold:

• To optimize the application of dyes and pigments extracted from bacteria and fungi found in nature (air, water, soil).
• To develop an innovative technological solution by applying these pigments to garments using Care Applications®’ advanced equipment, based on the eco-friendly ECOFinish® atomization process.

The uniqueness of this project lies in the unprecedented combination of these two technologies. Separately, both microbial dyes and atomization technology already represent major advances for the textile industry. However, when integrated, they create a revolutionary system with estimated savings of up to 90% in water, 85% in energy, and 90% in wastewater compared to conventional methods.

Technological innovation

The BIORE-DYE process is built on two key pillars:

• Microbial pigments developed by VTL, providing new bio-based colors — blues, reds, yellows, and earth tones — as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. These pigments are produced through industrial bioprocesses that allow scalability, overcoming the limitations of plant- or animal-based dyes.
• ECOFinish® atomization technology, developed by Care Applications®, which applies products as microdroplets onto fabrics, ensuring precision, reproducibility, and a drastic reduction in water and chemical use.

What makes it truly innovative is that biological pigments are applied directly inside the machine without an immersion bath, ensuring a cleaner and safer working environment.

A challenge for the textile industry

Dyeing with microbial pigments presents significant technical challenges: solubility, viscosity, and overall behavior differ from conventional synthetic dyes. Adapting recipes, temperatures, and process parameters will be crucial to guarantee industrial quality and stability.

The project will start at TRL 6 (technology demonstrated in a relevant environment) with the goal of reaching TRL 8 (complete and validated system) by the end, following quality testing on different fabrics.

Environmental and social impact

The textile sector faces increasing regulatory restrictions and strong social pressure to offer more sustainable products. BIORE-DYE directly responds to these needs:

• It offers a safer alternative free of hazardous substances compared to synthetic dyes, aligned with European regulations such as REACH and circular textile strategies.
• It enables brands to access eco-conscious materials and processes, increasingly demanded by younger consumers aware of the climate crisis.
• It supports circular economy solutions by reducing water, chemical, and energy consumption and minimizing waste generation.
• It strengthens the competitiveness of innovative European SMEs through cross-border collaboration.

The role of IN TRANSIT and the European Commission

The support of IN TRANSIT and H2020 funding are essential to ensure the feasibility of this proposal, connecting the textile industry with modern biotechnology.

Thanks to this support, synergies are being created between VTL and Care Applications®, boosting scalability, expanding product offerings, and contributing to the development of new circular and sustainable business models across Europe.

Conclusion

BIORE-DYE demonstrates that combining biotechnology and textile atomization can redefine the dyeing industry, offering a sustainable, scalable, and high-quality alternative to current synthetic processes.

It represents a decisive step toward an innovative, circular, and planet-friendly fashion industry, aligned with new European regulations and the expectations of future consumers.