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Sustainable solutions can transform textile waste to new possibilities: Shubhajit Dutta

Published: 24.9.2025

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.

Person in a white coat holding fabric swatches beside mannequins displaying various garments including yellow, blue, and grey. — Photos: Ritesh Sharma & Vafa Fakhri

Working within the Textile Chemistry Group, Shubhajit is contributing to the TexirC (Tackling Textile Circularity Challenges) Project funded by Business Finland, focusing on developing innovative solutions to deal with textile waste. He is working under the supervision of Prof. Ali Tehrani, Head of Textile Chemistry group.

Person in white lab coat stands with arms crossed in a modern laboratory surrounded by equipment. — Shubhajit at ABio, Aalto University

Shubhajit’s research is centered on creating an efficient color-stripping process that removes stubborn reactive dyes from textile waste—particularly cellulose-based fabrics such as cotton. By doing so, the fabrics can be effectively recycled through mechanical or chemical processes, reducing the need for virgin raw materials and minimizing waste disposal.

Person holding black and beige fabric swatches in a laboratory, wearing a white lab coat with a name badge. — Shubhajit with reactive dyed dark colored cotton waste (left) and color stripped (right) recycled fabrics

“Each year, a huge amount of textiles ends up as waste. Only a small fraction of these are truly recycled due to the lack of effective processes to handle the composite and multi-material nature of clothes,” Shubhajit explained. “I am addressing this pressing issue by developing techniques that can strip colors from fabrics, producing suitable feedstock for new textiles while promoting a circular economy.”

A scientist in a lab coat using a pipette to add liquid into a conical flask containing red fluid. — Shubhajit’s regular work at lab

His approach involves testing common pulp-bleaching agents for color stripping and optimizing treatment conditions to maximize efficiency while ensuring sustainability. The aim is to create a scalable method that the industry can adopt, enabling textiles to be reused rather than discarded.

A scientist in a lab coat and blue gloves is holding two beakers, one with yellow liquid and one with orange liquid. — Shubhajit with colored solution (right) and color stripped solution (left)

Shubhajit Dutta, who holds an M.Sc. (Tech) in Chemical Engineering from Aalto University, completed his master’s thesis under the FinnFiberColor Project, which focused on sustainable coloration methods. He has conducted his M. Sc. thesis under the supervision of Prof. Ali Tehrani, Head of Textile Chemistry group. His academic journey and ongoing research highlight a consistent dedication to tackling textile sustainability challenges.

A scientist in a lab coat holds a flask with red liquid and samples of dark, grey, and green fabrics in a laboratory. — Shubhajit with colored solution (left) and dyed waste fabrics (left)

By advancing techniques in color stripping, Shubhajit’s work is paving the way for innovative recycling practices that transform textile waste into a valuable resource. His research not only addresses environmental concerns but also contributes to reshaping the future of the fashion and textile industries toward circularity and sustainability.