Almost 20 years ago, denim bleaching became safer and more
sustainable with the launch of Novozymes DeniLite®. Using enzymatic technology
instead of harsh chemicals, the solution offered a gentle alternative for denim
processing. Novozymes’ latest offering is a cold bleaching product known as DeniLite® Cold.
Cold, gentle and rapid processing is the key to this
products success in the apparel industry.
According to Ole Bill Jørgensen, business development
manager for Novozymes' Textile division, “Our cold bleaching solution is
effective at tap water temperature,” He
goes on to say that, “Other bleaching technologies require the use of more
energy or water, and in some cases more process steps, to achieve the same
bleaching effect.”
The enzymatic bleaching solutions that are currently
available are usually based on enzymes known as laccases. They alter the indigo through oxidation. Depending on oxygen from the water or from
the air, this form of denim bleaching can take a long time, and the processing
step can require repetition. The new
cold bleaching solution is based on enzymes known as peroxidases, and this
innovation is formulated to work without extra oxygen from either the air or
water. This new peroxidase has a very
rapid reaction speed - 90% of the reaction finishes within 10 minutes.
The cold bleaching technology also secures improved fabric
durability due to the gentle bleaching conditions. Enzymatic solutions are extremely specific,
working only on the indigo dye on the fabric.
Unlike harsher bleaching chemicals, this means that strength and
elasticity of the fabric remains unchanged.
Fashionable enzymes at work on fabric:
Fabrics are often colored using both indigo and sulphur
dyes. The cold bleaching solution is
very effective when used with indigo dyes. It does not bleach black or brown sulfur
dyes, and only slightly alters the tone of blue sulfur dye. This means that different color tones can be
achieved with the same fabric using different dye combinations. The shades of
cold finished fabrics can be very different from those finished with
traditional chemicals.
“Novozymes’ cold bleaching solution can achieve
in-demand fashion looks,” says Ole Bill Jørgensen. “Denim processors can apply
this technology to current trends and create diverse looks for brand owners
very quickly. Even just one wash cycle
using this technology can create a variety of different color tones. We believe the full fashion potential will be
further explored when the technology becomes broadly available to the
industry.”
Novozymes was
founded in 2000 in a demerger from pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
Novozymes’ roots date back to the 1920s when Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium and Nordisk
Insulinlaboratorium were established in Copenhagen, Denmark. Enzyme production
began in 1941.
Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Their business is industrial enzymes,
microorganisms, and biopharmaceutical ingredients. Enzymes are proteins, and in
nature they initiate biochemical reactions in all living organisms. It is enzymes that
convert the food in our stomachs to energy and turn the falling leaves in the forest
to compost. Novozymes finds enzymes
in nature and optimize them for use in industry. In industry, enzymes replace chemicals and
accelerate production processes. Enzymes
are widely used in laundry and dishwashing detergents where they remove stains
and enable low-temperature washing and concentrated detergents.
This company helps their customers make more from less,
while saving energy and generating less waste.
This is good for both the garment industry and our environment. Apparel Search applauds them for working to
improve the level of waste that takes place in the textile industry.
Thank you for taking the time to read this new product
news. If you are a denim designer or
manufacturer working with denim fabrics, please share your thoughts on this
product & process in the discussion area below. We would like your questions, thoughts, and
opinions.