Colorifix Biological Textile Dyeing

Colorifix is a biotechnology company founded at Norwich Research Park, UK, as a spin-in from the University of Cambridge by Jim and Orr, who have focused on textile dyeing since 2014. It aims to replace hazardous chemical dyeing with a biological colour process that keeps industry quality standards and fits existing mills.

Colorifix finds a colour made by a plant, animal, insect or microbe, identifies the pigment genes in DNA databases and inserts them into a safe microbe. Mills and dyehouses install an on-site bioreactor of 300 L or 3,000 L, receive freeze-dried microbes from Colorifix colour banks, grow the colour from agricultural by-products and pump the broth into standard dye machines with yarn, fabric or garments. Colours are OEKO-TEX Eco Passport tested, and brands such as H&M, Pangaia and Vollebak have launched dyed products.

• Engineered microbes: pigment genes from nature are inserted into safe bacteria or yeast that produce colour.
• On-site bioreactors: 300 L or 3,000 L units using jet mixing and Venturi aeration.
• Colour banks: freeze-dried microbes are shipped to mills for each colour.
• Drop-in dyeing: fermentation broth goes straight into standard dye machines.
• Natural and synthetic substrates: works on fabrics, yarns and garments.
• Implementation support: a Portugal-based team installs equipment and trains mill staff.

Vietnamese dyehouses supplying H&M or IKEA can pilot a bioreactor to offer lower-impact colours on cotton and polyester blends. Knitting and dyeing mills in industrial parks can reduce chemical and gas use in their existing jet machines. Home textile and towel exporters can use biologically dyed fabrics as a differentiated product for European buyers.

A third-party verified life cycle assessment on recycled cotton and polyester jersey reports 80% less chemicals, 77% less water, 71% less natural gas, 53% less electricity and 31% lower CO2 than conventional dyeing. The process runs in existing dye machines, so mills keep their equipment and add only a bioreactor. Colour is grown on site from non-hazardous inputs, reducing dependence on petrochemical dyes.

Fashion and home furnishing brands are pushing suppliers to cut hazardous dye chemicals, water and gas use, and retailers such as IKEA and H&M now invest directly in alternative dyeing. Asian textile hubs including Vietnam handle a large share of global dyeing and face stricter wastewater rules, creating demand for biological processes that work with existing machinery.

Headquartered at Norwich Research Park, UK, with a pilot plant in Cambridge, bioreactor production and a demo site in Portugal, and an office in London. Raised USD 18 million in a Series B2 first close in July 2025 led by Inter IKEA Group, with H&M Group Ventures, Youngone CVC and others. Holds licences for customer onboarding in India and Sri Lanka. Subsidiary CFX.