Your Guide to Low Impact Plant-based Dyes

Dyeing fabrics plays an integral role in the textile industry, but it has long been associated with causing significant harm to both people and the planet.

Traditional synthetic dyes are made from a range of toxic chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic and contribute to water pollution. According to a 2017 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 20% of global industrial water pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment. These dyes contaminate waterways, degrade soil quality, deplete oxygen in water, and disrupt the photosynthesis of aquatic plants.

In response to these challenges, eco-friendly and low-impact dyes are increasingly gaining traction as a sustainable alternative. These dyes are made from natural sources like plants, minerals, and even food waste — offering a safer, less polluting option for textile coloration. In recent years, more and more sustainable brands and independent designers are turning to these dyes — not only to reduce environmental harm but to meet growing consumer demand for ethically made clothing.

What are Low-impact dyes?

Low-impact dyes are made under strict environmental regulations, such as those set by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and OEKO-TEX. The goal of these dyes is to minimize water waste and create a more circular, less polluting textile production system. Unlike traditional synthetic dyes, low-impact dyes are free from harmful toxins. Plus, they do not require mordants — substances typically used to fix dyes to fabric, which often contain toxic chemicals.

Another category of low-impact dyes are azo-free dyes. These are synthetic dyes that do not contain harmful azo compounds, which release toxic amines during degradation. These dyes are considered low-impact as they avoid the carcinogenic and environmentally polluting chemicals found in traditional azo dyes. Azo-free dyes require less water, energy, and chemicals during production and application, which thereby reduces their overall environmental footprint.

In case of nature-based alternatives, plant dyes and vegetable dyes are a form of low-impact, eco-friendly dyes derived from natural sources — making them an eco-friendlier alternative to synthetic dyes. These dyes are organic and sourced from parts of plants, fungi, vegetables and trees. Different plant materials are used to create a variety of colors. For instance, onion skins yield a soft pink to orange hue, turmeric roots produce vibrant yellows, beetroot creates shades of red and magenta, indigo leaves provide deep blues, and pomegranate peels result in earthy greens and yellows. These natural dyes not only non-toxic and biodegradable — they render unique, organic shades to textiles that are rich in character and free from harmful chemicals.

However when compared to low impact dyes, natural dyes are more water-intensive. Plus, they fade faster and must be used in large quantities to impart color. To give you some perspective, for one teaspoon of low impact dye used, several pounds of natural dye is needed.

So it suffices to say that for small-scale dyeing, natural dyes could be your go-to. Whereas, low impact dyes are more suitable for large scale dyeing processes.

Naturally sourced dyes lend unique colours to textiles.

Benefits of Low-impact Dyes

The benefits of using low impact dyes far outweigh its disadvantages. Below are just a few:

• They are eco friendly
• Non toxic to workers
• Less leaching of dye into water as most of the dye bonds with the fabric
• Less water consumption compared to plant based dyes and because of less leaching water used for dyeing can be recycled and used again

Brands using low impact natural dyes

These are a handful of European and Indian brands that use low impact dyes:

• Organic basics: An ethical underwear brand based out of Copenhagen, Denmark. They carefully choose materials and fabrics that care for our environment, prioritizing low-impact materials and only partnering with factories that consider their impact too.

• Zerobarracento: a clothing brand based out of Milan, Italy

• the Blue suit: a women’s clothing brand from Switzerland

Indian brands:

• The Terra Tribe: plant based dyes for garments from handwoven hemp, linen and organic cotton fabrics
  
• Beej: ethically made accessories
  
• The summer house: organic women’s clothing made using natural, low-impact dyes
  
• Sui: clothing and accessories for women made using natural dyes
  
• Kiniho: an independent label based out of Meghalaya, Shillong, it works with natural dyes sourced locally from the surrounding environment – leaves, bark, roots – over chemical dyes.

A variety of hues can be obtained using low impact & natural sources.

Bottom Line

As the fashion and textile industry continues to grapple with its environmental impact, low-impact and natural dyes offer a promising solution for a more sustainable future. These dyes reduce pollution and create a safer choice for both the planet and the people involved in the textile production value chain. With the fashion and textile industry responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, low impact dyes offer a cleaner approach to textile production — enabling sustainable brands to reduce their environmental footprint while meeting a growing consumer demand for transparency and environmental stewardship.