Prince of Wales and Cate Blanchett don lab coats to see eco brand at work
William and the actress visited labs in Norwich on Thursday where Colorifix, a biotechnology firm, creates its textile dyes.
Colorifix, which was a finalist in William's Earthshot Prize in 2023, has developed a biological process that replaces the use of harmful chemicals in textile dyes.
Since it was founded in 2016, the brand has partnered with fashion brands including H&M and Pangaia.
As William and Blanchett were taken through each step of the process to make the eco-friendly dyes, the Prince of Wales asked Sophie Vaud, the head of microbial engineering, to provide a 'layman's version' of the science.
After identifying a colour created naturally by an animal or plant, Colorifix's scientists sequence the DNA of that organism to find out where the colour is coded in its genetics.
That DNA code is then translated into a safe microbe which is then fermented to grow, creating a dye that can be used on natural and synthetic fabrics.
Dyes made chemically have a negative impact on the environment as they seep into rivers, harming wildlife. The process also uses a large amount of water.
The Prince of Wales and Blanchett, a council member of the Earthshot Prize, were invited to observe DNA gel under a microscope and were shown diagrams analysing the effectiveness of the pigments.
'What if it explodes?' Blanchett, joked before looking at the sample.
'I'm not going to pretend I know what that drawing means,' William told the experts when being shown diagrams.
The pair were then taken through the fermentation process which is where the dye is produced in a small version which can be scaled up.
David Clarke, head of fermentation at Colorifix, which is based in Norwich Research Park on the edge of the city, said their fermentation to produce the dyes is 'just like brewing'.
'We use a genetically-engineered bacteria to produce the substance – in this case colourants. In the brewing industry it's ethanol.
'Traditional dyeing is very, very polluting. This is completely innocuous.'
William and Blanchett were wowed by the range of colours produced when shown samples in the colouration lab, especially a bright teal.
In that lab, the dyes are sampled on a range of fabrics and then washed and tumble dried to test how they work and if there is any run off.
Rebecca Hiscock, a colouration technician, showed them some of the samples.
'It's like Blue Peter – here's one I made earlier,' William said.
Meeting the rest of the Colorifix team, the Prince of Wales said: 'Sorry for all the stupid questions you'll hear about later.'
He complimented the staff for their 'fantastic' work since Colorifix got to the final of the Earthshot Prize two years ago.
The Prince of Wales is founder and president of the global environmental award and Blanchett helps pick the winners.
'It's going really well, and it's really exciting,' he said, while Blanchett told them their work was 'really inspiring'.
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South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Prince of Wales and Cate Blanchett don lab coats to see eco brand at work
William and the actress visited labs in Norwich on Thursday where Colorifix, a biotechnology firm, creates its textile dyes. Colorifix, which was a finalist in William's Earthshot Prize in 2023, has developed a biological process that replaces the use of harmful chemicals in textile dyes. Since it was founded in 2016, the brand has partnered with fashion brands including H&M and Pangaia. As William and Blanchett were taken through each step of the process to make the eco-friendly dyes, the Prince of Wales asked Sophie Vaud, the head of microbial engineering, to provide a 'layman's version' of the science. After identifying a colour created naturally by an animal or plant, Colorifix's scientists sequence the DNA of that organism to find out where the colour is coded in its genetics. That DNA code is then translated into a safe microbe which is then fermented to grow, creating a dye that can be used on natural and synthetic fabrics. Dyes made chemically have a negative impact on the environment as they seep into rivers, harming wildlife. The process also uses a large amount of water. The Prince of Wales and Blanchett, a council member of the Earthshot Prize, were invited to observe DNA gel under a microscope and were shown diagrams analysing the effectiveness of the pigments. 'What if it explodes?' Blanchett, joked before looking at the sample. 'I'm not going to pretend I know what that drawing means,' William told the experts when being shown diagrams. The pair were then taken through the fermentation process which is where the dye is produced in a small version which can be scaled up. David Clarke, head of fermentation at Colorifix, which is based in Norwich Research Park on the edge of the city, said their fermentation to produce the dyes is 'just like brewing'. 'We use a genetically-engineered bacteria to produce the substance – in this case colourants. In the brewing industry it's ethanol. 'Traditional dyeing is very, very polluting. This is completely innocuous.' William and Blanchett were wowed by the range of colours produced when shown samples in the colouration lab, especially a bright teal. In that lab, the dyes are sampled on a range of fabrics and then washed and tumble dried to test how they work and if there is any run off. Rebecca Hiscock, a colouration technician, showed them some of the samples. 'It's like Blue Peter – here's one I made earlier,' William said. Meeting the rest of the Colorifix team, the Prince of Wales said: 'Sorry for all the stupid questions you'll hear about later.' He complimented the staff for their 'fantastic' work since Colorifix got to the final of the Earthshot Prize two years ago. The Prince of Wales is founder and president of the global environmental award and Blanchett helps pick the winners. 'It's going really well, and it's really exciting,' he said, while Blanchett told them their work was 'really inspiring'.
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Prince of Wales and Cate Blanchett don lab coats to see eco brand at work
William and the actress visited labs in Norwich on Thursday where Colorifix, a biotechnology firm, creates its textile dyes. Colorifix, which was a finalist in William's Earthshot Prize in 2023, has developed a biological process that replaces the use of harmful chemicals in textile dyes. Since it was founded in 2016, the brand has partnered with fashion brands including H&M and Pangaia. As William and Blanchett were taken through each step of the process to make the eco-friendly dyes, the Prince of Wales asked Sophie Vaud, the head of microbial engineering, to provide a 'layman's version' of the science. After identifying a colour created naturally by an animal or plant, Colorifix's scientists sequence the DNA of that organism to find out where the colour is coded in its genetics. That DNA code is then translated into a safe microbe which is then fermented to grow, creating a dye that can be used on natural and synthetic fabrics. Dyes made chemically have a negative impact on the environment as they seep into rivers, harming wildlife. The process also uses a large amount of water. The Prince of Wales and Blanchett, a council member of the Earthshot Prize, were invited to observe DNA gel under a microscope and were shown diagrams analysing the effectiveness of the pigments. 'What if it explodes?' Blanchett, joked before looking at the sample. 'I'm not going to pretend I know what that drawing means,' William told the experts when being shown diagrams. The pair were then taken through the fermentation process which is where the dye is produced in a small version which can be scaled up. David Clarke, head of fermentation at Colorifix, which is based in Norwich Research Park on the edge of the city, said their fermentation to produce the dyes is 'just like brewing'. 'We use a genetically-engineered bacteria to produce the substance – in this case colourants. In the brewing industry it's ethanol. 'Traditional dyeing is very, very polluting. This is completely innocuous.' William and Blanchett were wowed by the range of colours produced when shown samples in the colouration lab, especially a bright teal. In that lab, the dyes are sampled on a range of fabrics and then washed and tumble dried to test how they work and if there is any run off. Rebecca Hiscock, a colouration technician, showed them some of the samples. 'It's like Blue Peter – here's one I made earlier,' William said. Meeting the rest of the Colorifix team, the Prince of Wales said: 'Sorry for all the stupid questions you'll hear about later.' He complimented the staff for their 'fantastic' work since Colorifix got to the final of the Earthshot Prize two years ago. The Prince of Wales is founder and president of the global environmental award and Blanchett helps pick the winners. 'It's going really well, and it's really exciting,' he said, while Blanchett told them their work was 'really inspiring'.
Times
6 hours ago
- Times
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.'
