Sparxell, Pangaia & Manufacturing Technology Centre Announce "Breakthrough" in Industrial-Scale Bio-Based Pigments

Cambridge, UK – September 2025– An innovative collaboration between University of Cambridge spin-out Sparxell, global materials science company Pangaia, and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has successfully advanced bio-based pigments from laboratory research to industrial readiness through the Innovate UK-funded Elucent project.

Over an 18-month period, the Elucent project has demonstrated how science, engineering, and design can converge to establish new, sustainable colour technologies. By combining Sparxell’s pioneering cellulose-based colour platform with Pangaia’s design expertise and the MTC’s process-scaling capabilities, the team has moved beyond proof of concept to prepare for commercial implementation.

“Advancing these bio-based pigments to the point of industrial readiness is a milestone not only for material science, but for sustainable fashion and manufacturing more broadly,” the companies claim. “It’s proof that responsible innovation can keep up with industrial demand.”

Key Achievements

• Real-world textile testing: In collaboration with London-based Orto Print Studio, Pangaia produced fabric prototypes printed with the new pigments and rigorously tested for durability. These tests help bridge the gap between laboratory conditions and consumer-facing applications.

• Industrial scale validation: The MTC engineered custom production systems, verifying that the pigments perform reliably under industrial-scale conditions.

  
  

Looking Ahead

The partners anticipate a commercial launch of products using the bio-based pigments in 2026.

About the Elucent Project

Elucent is an Innovate UK-funded initiative designed to unite science, engineering, and design to create sustainable technologies for colour. It aims to transform the use of materials in industries where colour plays a fundamental role, like fashion, textiles, and manufacturing.

About the Organisations

• Sparxell is a University of Cambridge spin-out focusing on cellulose-based colour platforms.

• Pangaia is a materials science company dedicated to designing sustainable garments and textile technologies.

• The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is a leading independent UK research & development organisation specialising in scaling innovations for industrial viability.