Imagine if we could get the bright, shimmering colors of a butterfly or a leaf without using any paint or ink. This technology uses a natural material from plants to create 'structural color' that reflects light in a specific way. It's like building a tiny mirror system at a microscopic level to create vivid colors without using any harmful chemicals.
The €38bn colorant industry relies on toxic chemicals, microplastics, and unethical mining. Companies face intense regulatory and consumer pressure to find high-performance alternatives that do not sacrifice vividness or durability.
A patent-protected process to create photonic crystals from crystalline cellulose. This results in non-toxic, biodegradable, and low-carbon colorants.
If you are a beauty brand dealing with consumer pressure to remove microplastics and toxic dyes — this project developed plant-based colorants that provide high-performance vivid colors. This allows you to offer a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative without sacrificing the visual appeal of the product.
If you are a clothing manufacturer dealing with the high carbon footprint of synthetic dyes, which can emit up to 27 kg CO2e per kg — this project developed a cellulose-based coloring method. This replaces petrochemical products with renewable, circular feedstocks like agricultural waste.
If you are a packaging company dealing with the fact that some colorants take 500 years to biodegrade — this project developed a fully plant-based pigment. This ensures your packaging remains biodegradable and supports a circular economy.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the project aims to replace a multi-billion-euro industry of traditional colorants.
The project is specifically designed to overcome manufacturing challenges and facilitate the scale-up and market entry of the colorants.
The innovation and early manufacturing process are patent protected.
It addresses regulatory pressure by replacing toxic, carcinogenic synthetic dyes and carbon-intensive metal pigments with biodegradable, non-toxic plant materials.
The project runs from 2025-06-01 to 2027-05-31 to complete the development programme and facilitate market entry.
The project is led by a single SME, Sparxell UK Limited, which is a spin-out from the University of Cambridge. With a 100% industry ratio and a single partner, the project is lean and focused on commercialization rather than academic research, leveraging existing patent-protected technology.
Contact Sparxell UK Limited regarding their plant-based photonic crystals
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