Master’s Thesis Demonstrates Sustainable Textile Printing with Biocolours
The research forms part of the ongoing Biodyes Project at Aalto University, an initiative dedicated to developing environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional textile dyes. The project explores how natural compounds derived from forest and agricultural materials can replace synthetic dyes, which are widely associated with environmental pollution, toxic effluents, and dependence on petrochemical resources.
Supervised by Professor Ali Tehrani, Head of the Textile Chemistry Group, and guided by advisors Dr. Susan Kunnas, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), and Dr. Md. Reazuddin Repon, Postdoctoral Researcher at Aalto University, Lotta investigated innovative textile printing methods using biocolours extracted from lingonberry and roseroot.
During her presentation, Lotta demonstrated effective textile printing results achieved through bio-based colourants, indicating strong potential for sustainable applications in textile processing. Her findings contribute to broader research efforts seeking to transform agroforestry residues such as plant materials and by-products into value-added dye sources that reduce waste while supporting circular economy principles.
Lotta expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the group’s research activities, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and collaboration throughout her thesis work. She also acknowledged the role of the group’s well-equipped laboratory facilities in enabling extensive experimental testing.
The audience congratulated her on the successful completion of her research and recognized the significance of her contribution to advancing textile chemistry and sustainable manufacturing practices. Colleagues and supervisors extended their best wishes for her future career, noting that her work represents a meaningful step toward greener textile technologies.
As sustainability continues to reshape the global textile industry, research initiatives such as the Biodyes Project demonstrate how academic innovation can support the transition toward renewable, low-impact materials and environmentally responsible production methods.
Read more news
Prototyping and Validation Grant: WeatherSens AI
Three Aalto founders are using off-the-shelf drones and an AI physics model to measure the weather where no station stands. First they had to learn when not to sell.
Doctoral thesis: A film director doesn’t just lead the vision – the creative team also needs leadership
Hanna Maylett’s dissertation, to be examined at Aalto University, identifies two intertwined dimensions in a film director’s artistic leadership: the regulation of the work’s content and the social processes within the production team.
Three rising Aalto University researchers secure highly sought-after EU funding
In their research projects, Dominik Baumann, Tero Mäkinen and Owies Wani develop the training of reinforcement learning agents, a better understanding of the physics of material damage and electrolyte structures for energy storage.