William takes chemistry lesson with Cate Blanchett for Earthshot
Cate Blanchett has said that she will reconsider the colour of clothes she wears in the future, after touring clothes dye laboratories in Norwich with Prince William.
The Oscar-winning actress joined the prince on a royal visit to the laboratories of Colorifix, a company that makes environmentally friendly clothing dye and was a finalist in the Earthshot Prize.
The competition, founded by William in 2020, awards £1 million annually to five inventors who have come up with new solutions to help save the planet.
The pair visited four different laboratories that each illustrated a step in Colorifix's process of making sustainablefabric dye.
They heard how some colours, such as black, green, white and blue, are more difficult to make without damaging the environment. Their manufacture relies more upon using petrochemicals, which pollute the planet and are harmful to wildlife.
Colorifix aims to replace the fashion industry's use of these chemically synthesised dyes by using DNA sequencing and natural colours to create sustainable dye.
Blanchett said the visit had 'certainly been an education in colour and what is possible' and added that she will 'look at the amount of white and black and blue in my wardrobe and maybe try and gravitate towards pinks and peaches'.
• Prince William tells Earthshot winners: Hope and ingenuity will save the planet
The industry of fabric dying consumes five trillion litres of water globally each year and harms wildlife when dangerous chemicals seep into water sources.
Wearing long lab coats, the pair were invited to look at DNA under a microscope as well as view the fermentation process firsthand, prompting William to joke that he wished he had paid more attention in chemistry at school.
After learning about the technical DNA sequencing of natural colours, he said: 'Today has just made me realise I should have listened in all of my chemistry lessons.
'Going back over all those old notes like 'Damn, why didn't I pay more attention'.'
• Earthshot Prize chief: Prince William is best possible advocate
The visit marked Blanchett's ongoing support for William's Earthshot Prize. Speaking afterwards, the actress, who has won two Academy Awards, said: 'The DNA sequencing is incredible.
'And I think what happens in any scientific process — though I'm far from an expert — is that you get these incredible happy accidents. Like the discovery of a metallic sheen to one of the pigments.'
In a speech to Colorifix's staff at the end, William praised the work of the company, which is now working with H&M, the high street giant, on some of its clothing.
Orr Yarkoni, the co-founder and chief executive of the company, said the 'big difficulty' was trying to change the established supply chains of the fashion industry: 'We need to implement where the supply chain is.
'Rather than trying to get the industry to adapt to us, we need to do everything to adapt to the industry and make it easy for them to change.'
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