There is a more sustainable way! With bio-based and biodegradable textile and leather chemicals

The following is a translation from an article in the German media outlet “forum. Nachhaltig Wirtschaften” (“forum. sustainable business”). Find the original here.

Schutzen is one of the five finalists for the ISC3 Innovation Award 2024 on the topic of “Innovations in Sustainable Chemistry for Textiles” – We introduce the startups in an exclusive series. In October, they will pitch their ideas at the Investor Forum of the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) during the Impact Festival in Frankfurt.

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the fashion industry is the second largest contributor to global pollution, accounting for 10% of it, just behind the petroleum industry. One reason for this is water-intensive production processes that use chemicals, leading to global warming and toxic wastewater. Reckless chemical design has resulted in non-biodegradable and toxic waste increasingly ending up in nature. According to SCHUTZEN, nearly every day a new toxic substance is discovered, but the startup’s innovation from India aims to change that.

Raj Tanna (Founder & Managing Director Schutzen) @ ISC3 Investor Forum as part of Impact Festival 2024

Innovative Technology for Recycling Textiles

Founder Raj Mahendra Tanna of the Schutzen Group has developed an innovative technology for producing textile and leather chemicals that support biodiversity. His startup extracts polyols from diverse biological plants and waste, such as tamarind. These 100% bio-based products have the same properties as the synthetic chemicals currently used in the textile industry’s manufacturing process but contain no fossil carbon, synthetic nitrogen, or phosphorus, and no toxic components. “The goal is to rebalance biogeochemical cycles and eliminate the risks associated with toxic components in chemicals,” says Raj Tanna. The textile chemicals used by the startup are proven to be bio-based, biodegradable, and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. The innovative technology is certified and scalable.

ISC3 Innovation Award 2024: More than 50 Startups from 30 Countries

With the motto:

“Only new chemicals can offer new solutions to old problems”

two indian men pointing their thumbs up — Start-up SCHUTZEN one of five finalists of the ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2024 with he theme „Innovations of a sustainable chemistry for textiles“
© ISC3

SCHUTZEN applied for the €25,000 Innovation Award 2024 from the International Competence Centre for Sustainable Chemistry (ISC3). The 23-member international expert jury nominated the startup as one of five finalists for its contribution to sustainable chemistry. They will pitch their ideas at the ISC3 Investor Forum, which will take place this year as part of the Impact Festival on October 30 and 31 in Frankfurt. The Innovation Award is part of the annual Investor Forum, where ISC3 brings together international startups, investors, scientists, and decision-makers for the sixth time. This year’s central question of the international competition was: “Which innovative ideas in sustainable chemistry have the potential to improve the textile sector?” More than 50 startups from 30 countries applied. Their responses range from environmentally friendly production to alternative business models, materials, raw materials, recycling, waste reduction, and bio-based and biodegradable textile and leather chemicals, like those from SCHUTZEN.

Certified Technology Reduces Water Consumption by 21,000 Liters

SCHUTZEN’s innovation is based on a patented reaction technology as a building block of polymer technology, allowing the production of products without outdated and toxic reaction technologies. The startup replaces the entire range of fossil chemicals in the value chain – raw materials, diluents, components, ingredients, fillers, and active ingredients – with bio-based and biodegradable substances. The products are manufactured together with other novel biomaterial additives, enabling the production of a variety of substances with desirable end functionalities for every application. Through this systemic product design, the startup lays the foundation for future applications.

The innovative method eliminates the use of fossil carbon and pollutants in textile processing, thereby preventing their release into wastewater. According to the GIZ “Master Training Program On Water,” water consumption after dyeing is 56.5 liters per kilogram of fabric. SCHUTZEN reduces the number of washing cycles from 10 to 3 by using bio-detergents. Water consumption per ton of dyed and soaped fabric is reduced by at least 21,000 liters.

Startup Demonstrates the Importance of Sustainable Chemistry

“By specifically reducing the carbon footprint and supporting biodiversity preservation through bio-based and biodegradable chemicals, SCHUTZEN’s innovation has the potential to make a significant contribution to a more sustainable textile industry,” says Dr. Alexis Bazzanella, Director of the ISC3 Innovation Hub.

The startup impressively demonstrates how sustainable chemistry can play a crucial role in transforming towards more resource-efficient textile production.