Lower-impact polyester dyeing has moved closer to mill-scale testing after SwitchDye secured minority equity investment from John Hogg Technical Solutions to support industrial validation in mills. The University of Leeds spinout has developed a drop-in dyeing system using fizzy water, designed to reduce chemical intensity, water consumption and energy use while allowing textile manufacturers to retain common dyehouse equipment.
- John Hogg will provide technical input, manufacturing and stewardship expertise, plus customer networks, helping SwitchDye move from laboratory development to mill use.
- The system has demonstrated that major additive reduction can be achieved without compromising dyeing performance.
- SwitchDye’s technology can reduce rinse stages, shorten machine time, use 40% less water and support easier dye removal at product end-of-life.
THE INVESTMENT: SwitchDye has gained an industry partner through a significant minority equity investment from John Hogg Technical Solutions, giving the University of Leeds spinout support beyond laboratory conditions. The agreement brings sector expertise and customer access into the next development phase, while the University’s commercialisation team has made investor introductions and provided funding to help the team achieve commercial validation.
- John Hogg’s role is intended to help SwitchDye test its polyester dyeing system in working mill environments and move towards industry use.
- The partnership follows research collaboration between the Schools of Design and Chemistry, involving Dr Nathaniel Crompton, Dr Harrison Oates, Professor Richard Blackburn and Professor Chris Rayner.
- The dyes were synthesised in the Wolfson CO2 laboratory before transfer to the School of Design and Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour facilities.
- SwitchDye will work with dyehouses and brands over the coming months to demonstrate integration into existing equipment and measurable savings.
- Manchester-based John Hogg supplies fuel marking and speciality chemical technologies across 70-plus countries, with colour solutions spanning lubricants, greases, textiles and more.
THE IMPACT CASE: Polyester’s scale makes dye-stage resource use and waste a significant issue for textile production, with the source linking fibre output, water consumption, clean water pollution and chemical discharge. SwitchDye says its alternative system is designed to cut chemical dependency and simplify operations without requiring mills to replace installed machinery, placing its commercial case on chemical savings, lower water use and dyehouse practicality together.
- Polyester accounts for more than half of global fibre output, making dyeing impacts relevant to a large share of textile production.
- Fibre dyeing consumes 600 billion litres of water every year across the globe, underlining the scale of process-related resource demand.
- Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution, according to the source material on dyeing impacts.
- Polyester dyeing alone releases around 280,000 tonnes of waste dye and other chemicals annually, adding a specific chemical burden to production.
- SwitchDye tests showed its system can remove additives that typically account for up to 90% of chemicals without compromising performance.
WHAT THEY SAID
SwitchDye’s pioneering approach to polyester dyeing will help to drive a more circular and sustainable textile industry. This is another example of the outstanding talent that exists within our research community and our strength in nurturing and supporting innovation in new technologies.
— Professor Nick Plant
Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation
University of Leeds
Partnering with John Hogg gives us the technical expertise and industry reach to move from lab success into consistent, real-world application. Over the coming months, we’ll be working closely with dyehouses and brands to demonstrate how the technology integrates into existing equipment and delivers measurable savings.
— Dr Harrison Oates
Chief Technology Officer
SwitchDye
The partnership with SwitchDye marks the start of an inspiring journey with the potential to improve the future of textile manufacturing for many years to come. At John Hogg, we have always taken pride in understanding our customers’ needs and the evolving demands of the market. Being part of an innovation that delivers a true step forward in sustainable dyeing technology is something we are genuinely excited about. We also see clear alignment between our businesses, with John Hogg’s wider capabilities helping to accelerate SwitchDye’s path to commercialisation.
— Sam Walton
Chief Technical Officer
John Hogg
