Agro-Industrial Waste Can Replace Synthetic Dyes at Industrial Scale, APEC Study Finds

Agro-industrial waste can replace synthetic dyes in textile production if technical performance gaps are resolved, an APEC report has found. The study positioned agricultural residues as scalable inputs for biodegradable colourants, linking farm by-products to industrial dyeing processes. It outlined a circular framework aimed at reducing wastewater pollution while creating traceable value chains between agricultural producers and textile manufacturers.

• The global textile industry is valued at USD 2.5 trillion and currently loses 10–15% of synthetic dyes into wastewater streams.
• Residues such as onion skins, avocado seeds and pomegranate peels were identified as viable sources for non-toxic, biodegradable colourants.
• The report, Agro-Industrial Waste as a Resource for Sustainable Textile Dyeing: A Circular Economy Perspective, published by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), defined technical fidelity as the capacity to meet industrial benchmarks for colour fastness and durability.

THE STUDY: Agro-industrial waste was defined in the APEC assessment as a critical resource for resolving performance constraints that have limited natural dye adoption at scale. The document set out a circular economy model that integrates agricultural by-products into textile dyeing systems, arguing that measurable environmental benefits depend on aligning residue processing with industrial production standards. It was developed under APEC SMEWG_204_2024, implemented by Peru through the Instituto Tecnológico de la Producción, with co-sponsorship from Canada and Thailand.

• The framework is structured around four pillars: waste valorization, technological accessibility, circular linkages and industrial validation.
• It emphasised converting unutilised residues into revenue streams for farmers and traceable inputs for textile producers.
• Industrial validation was presented as essential to ensure shade consistency, repeatability and compatibility with organic certification systems.
• The research combined bibliometric analysis, grey literature review and expert consultation to bridge academic and applied industry evidence.

THE PERFORMANCE GAP:Natural dye adoption remains constrained by measurable performance gaps when benchmarked against synthetic alternatives, particularly in colour fastness and durability. The APEC assessment identified technical fidelity as the defining industrial barrier, noting that most natural dye sources struggle to meet light and washing fastness standards required for large-scale textile manufacturing.

• Approximately 90% of natural dye sources were reported to fall short of synthetic benchmarks in light and washing fastness.
• Achieving higher performance requires moving from artisanal practices toward semi-industrial applications using standardised protocols and enzymatic treatments.
• The report linked performance reliability to industrial constraints such as line speed and substrate variability in global production environments.
• The analysis identified a structural gap between laboratory innovation and commercial application, limiting industrial confidence in residue-based dyes.
• Adoption barriers were categorised as technical variability, economic cost pressures, weak institutional coordination and market hesitation over quality and standards.

HOW IT WORKS: Residue-to-dye conversion was presented as technically accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises through extraction methods ranging from maceration and decoction to microwave-assisted extraction. The report positioned these techniques as scalable bridges between laboratory validation and industrial deployment, enabling decentralised textile clusters to adopt cleaner production systems without prohibitive capital intensity.

• Technological accessibility was framed around low-cost, replicable extraction processes suitable for artisanal workshops and SMEs.
• The EarthColors model was cited as an industrial validation pathway to ensure shade consistency and repeatability at market scale.
• Standardised protocols, natural mordants and enzymatic treatments were identified as necessary for semi-industrial implementation.
• Patent growth and certified commercial applications indicate scaling potential, although system-level integration remains uneven across economies.

REGIONAL POSITIONING: For India, the report framed residue-based dye systems as a transition from artisanal traditions to sovereign sustainable manufacturing, supported by the country’s research leadership in natural dye publications. It linked domestic agricultural waste streams with decentralised textile clusters, positioning traceability, certification alignment and rural income diversification as structural levers within APEC-wide circular economy objectives.

• As a leading holder of GOTS certification, India was described as well placed to standardise clean-label residue-to-dye traceability.
• Large volumes of marigold, pomegranate and onion waste were identified as inputs that could reduce wastewater burdens associated with synthetic dyes.
• Direct linkages between farmers and dyeing units were presented as mechanisms for non-migratory rural income and MSME modernisation.

PRIORITIES FOR SCALE: The report outlined four priorities for accelerating industrial adoption within APEC economies. These include standardising extraction and testing protocols, conducting full life-cycle assessments to strengthen eco-label alignment, exploring multifunctional dye properties and advancing techno-economic scaling studies to improve competitiveness.

• Standardisation was identified as essential to ensure reproducibility and industrial confidence.
• Life-cycle assessment was highlighted as necessary to quantify environmental savings and reinforce certification credibility.
• Techno-economic and scaling studies were recommended to reduce cost gaps and accelerate commercial uptake.