Could this be a revolutionaryâeuros technology? Japanese inkjet printer and cutting plotter manufacturer Mimaki unveils a technology that bleaches textiles for reuse. Called Néo-Chromato, the process focuses on polyester materials printed with dye-sublimation ink.
According to a study by Mimaki, polyester fabrics, which are mainly used for garments and short-term events, account for the bulk (60%) of textile waste. And most of these colored polyester textiles end up being incinerated. Only 15% is recycled, i.e. collected, shredded, washed, transformed into raw materials and re-dyed. A huge amount of energy is required to recycle them.
Mimaki's technology is quite different. Although the manufacturer doesn't describe the technique, it claims that the Neo-Chromato process removes deposited ink using almost no water, and requires much less energy than conventional recycling. What's more, printing and dyeing can be carried out immediately after fading.
"There's no limit to the number of times reused polyester can be treated with the Neo-Chromato process. And the process itself minimizes water consumption and pollution by allowing incineration disposal of the absorbent paper and bleaching solvents used in the process." says Arjen Evertse, General Sales Manager, Mimaki Europe, in a press release.
Banners, hanging screens, signs or backlit canvases could simply be erased and reprinted over and over again. Mimaki is still working on the commercial and economic aspects of this invention, which looks promising on paper.
