Dyes in textile waste streams pose a major barrier to textile-to-textile recycling. Our research has developed an upstream platform that effectively removes dyes from polyester and other textiles using sustainable, biologically derived solvents, and enables the recycling of both fibres and dyes.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017). A report released by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation on textile waste and impacts.
Zhang, L., Leung, M. Y., Boriskina, S. & Tao, X. Advancing life cycle sustainability of textiles through technological innovations. Nat. Sustain. 6, 243–253 (2022). A review article that presents technological advancements towards reducing the environmental impacts of textile production.
Textile Exchange. Preferred Fiber and Materials Market Report 2022 (Textile Exchange, 2022). A report released by the Textile Exchange outlining the markets and trends in textiles.
Enking, J. et al. Recycling processes of polyester-containing textile waste — a review. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 219, 108256 (2025). A review article that presents innovations in textile recycling.
Shao, Y., Mu, B., Yu, X. & Yang, Y. Ramification of dyes for fiber-to-fiber recycling of cotton textiles. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 222, 108454 (2025). A journal article on the recovery of dyes in cotton textile recycling.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Lee, M. et al. Extraction, purification, and reuse of dyes from coloured polyester textiles. Nat. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01686-7 (2025).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dye removal from polyester fibres unlocks textile recycling. Nat Sustain 9, 20–21 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01697-4
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01697-4