Sustainability of the use of natural dyes in the textile industry

The waste of synthetic dyes from the textile industry causes environmental problems, and it is categorized as hazardous wastes. In contrast, the use of natural dyes is reported to produce fewer pollutants. However, the use of mordant for improving the quality of the dyeing process may release hazardous pollutants because mordant that is commonly used contains heavy metals. In order to claim that the use of natural dyes promotes the sustainable textile industry, it is challenging to find alternative sources of mordant-like materials that are environmental-friendly. It has been reported that tannins could replace mordant for dyeing process using natural dyes. This paper discussed the sustainability of the use of natural dyes in the textile industry based on economic, environmental and social aspects. (paper)