The huge global textile market is increasing steadily by increasing the population and growing demand. The textile industry is the main source of income in some countries and plays a vital role in the economy.
The high profitability of the textile industry often comes at the price of polluting the environment because of the remaining chemicals in wastewater.
The motivation for developing green and sustainable textile processes is to promote the bioeconomy of Finland by working on the whole value chain of recently developed man-made cellulose fibers in the country and expand their portfolio.
Dr. Md. Reazuddin Repon, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Textile Chemistry Group, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, has contributed as an editor to a newly published academic volume titled “Nanoparticles Integrated Functional Textiles”.
In an era where fashion waste is mounting as a global environmental concern, Shubhajit Dutta, Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems of Aalto University is working on sustainable textile recycling.
Tonmoy Saha, a Doctoral Researcher in the Textile Chemistry Group at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, is breaking new ground in the field of textile sustainability.
The BioSusTex consortium convened on September 9–10, 2025, for a two-day meeting dedicated to advancing sustainable textile technologies.
In the global push toward sustainability, the textile sector stands out as one of the industries most in need of transformation. Traditionally reliant on synthetic dyes and petroleum-based auxiliaries, textile dyeing and finishing have long been criticized for their heavy chemical footprint.
August 18, 2025 – The results meeting of the TexirC project took place at Valmet’s Fiber Technology Center.
August 8, 2025 – The Textile Chemistry Group convened its Annual Meeting on Friday, August 8, bringing together researchers, doctoral candidates, master’s students, and interns to share their latest work in advancing sustainable textile technologies. The meeting was inaugurated and chaired by Professor Ali Tehrani, Head of the Textile Chemistry Group, who welcomed all members and emphasized the importance of collaborative research in shaping the future of the textile industry.
Developing an efficient color stripping process to remove reactive dyes from textile waste, enhancing fabric recyclability and environmental safety.
Professor Ali Tehrani and his research group focus on something very familiar to us all – textiles.
Research areas of the textile chemistry group.
Textile chemistry team members
The TexirC project will support Finnish companies in their efforts to create a more sustainable textile industry.
Towards Absolute safe and sustainable biobased textile
Bio-based sustainable SURFACTANTS TO Foster GREEN industry
Developing Profitable Textile Bio-Dyes from Agroforestry Waste
Multifunctional Bio-based Textiles
Plant Based Molecules for Enhancing Functional Properties of Cellulose Fiber Materials
Multifunctional Bio-based Textiles
Sustainable fit-for-purpose nonwovens is a research project that responds to the need of Finnish industry to improve competitiveness and expand opportunities in the rapidly growing market for sustainable nonwovens.
The goal of the FinnFiberColor project is to develop solutions for the challenges that man-made cellulose fiber (MMCF) technologies face.
This project aims to develop a modular one-/two-step platform that pre-activates cellulose with triazinium salts and uses N-heterocyclic leaving groups to graft dyes, amino acids, and biopolymers—enabling durable colouration and functional coatings.
events and activities
Events of textile chemistry group
On December 9, master’s thesis student Elsa Vuorenmaa from the Textile Chemistry Group presented the results of her research on color stripping of reactive-dyed cotton fabrics.
Babak Abdi, a PhD scholar from Aalto University, presented his latest research at E-Textiles 2025, the 7th International Conference on the Challenges, Opportunities, Innovations and Applications in Electronic Textiles.
On Friday, members of the PhD and Postdoctoral group involved in the BioSustex Project convened for a collaborative meeting to exchange research findings and experiences.
The Textile Chemistry Group warmly welcomed back Ritesh Sharma, a PhD scholar, on Monday following his parental leave.
On June 5th, 2025, the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University hosted its annual BIO2 research seminar at the Aalto Design Factory.
At Aalto University’s Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, researchers are reimagining the future of textiles. Among them is Vafa Fakhri, a PhD scholar in the Textile Chemistry group, whose work blends sustainability, advanced materials, and innovation in wearable technology.
On Thursday, 28 August, Isla Lizett Rodríguez Banda, a summer intern in the Textile Chemistry Group, presented the results of her research work. Her work explored the use of solvents for color stripping of disperse dye from polyester fabrics.
On 15 August, Fernanda Rivera Ledesma, a summer intern in the Textile Chemistry Group, presented the results of her research. Her work focused on color stripping of vat-dyed denim fabrics using oxidizing bleaching agents.
Associate professor Ali Tehrani, who works at Aalto University's School of Chemical Engineering Bioproducts and Biosystems Department, has an impressive background in textile research already before joining Aalto. And he also enjoys guiding and supporting his students in their research and careers.
Professor Ali Tehrani and his research group focus on something very familiar to us all – textiles.
Olamide working on developing sustainable and environmentally friendly nonwovens from recycled and bio-based man-made cellulosic fibres, utilizing nonwoven technologies such as needle-punching, air-through bonding, and wet-laid processes.
The Mirka Karis factory recently hosted a key meeting for the TexirC project, which is tackling four major challenges in textile recycling: colour stripping, fibre separation, compositional analysis, and the de/repolymerization of synthetic fibres.
Research field is an area of academic research in which the school has agreed to provide doctoral education. The Aalto Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering offers doctoral education in 6 research fields. Each doctoral student is appointed a supervising professor who represents the research field approved for the student.
Aalto University and the Natural Resources Institute Finland are developing bio-based textile dyes.
