Sustainability in Dyeing and Finishing

Abstract

The dyeing and finishing sector includes processes such as coloration, processing, and functionalization unit in the textile industry which is usually high-cost, energy, and harmful chemical-demanding process. Certain characteristics such as colour, shade, pattern, quality, and type of processing are important in enhancing the fabric properties in the dyeing and finishing sectors. In the current scenario, these wet chemical processing units spend a large quantity of water, dyes, chemicals and accessories during their processing step. Furthermore, this sector produces an immense quantity of industrial effluent which is directed towards the nearby aquatic streams resulting in the destruction of ecosystem and drinking water deficiency. Due to the harmful effects of textile effluent such as water pollution, global warming, weather change, energy demand and water deficit, several attempts were made by researchers to implement sustainability in dyeing and the finishing process. Researchers have investigated the natural dyes obtained from the plants such as turmeric, tulsi, lemon and lavender to reduce the harmful effects of the synthetic dyes. Several materials such as plant extract, biopolymers, biomolecules, proteins, agricultural derivatives and lignocellulosic compounds are used in the finishing process to enhance the strength, stability, wear resistance, water resistance, flame resistance and UV protection. This chapter elaborates the various strategies followed in sustainable dyeing and the finishing process in the textile industry.