Sustainability is not such a tough nut to crack
19/06/2018
The initiative is supported by Spain’s Department of the Environment and by the regional government of the Gipuzkoa province. The province’s National Cider Association is also involved.
Ternua came up with the idea of using the nut shells from nearby cider houses in 2017. During cider season it estimates that up to 55,000 kilogrammes of walnuts are consumed as they are part of a customary dessert in the region’s cider houses.
The brand's Director of Innovation, Edu Uribesalgo, has said: “The first thing we thought of were the nut shells in the cider houses. We talked with the Natural Cider Association of Gipuzkoa and they agreed to collaborate. So, we got to work. We found a company in Tudela where the shells could be ground up and we got in touch with Archroma to see whether they could handle the chemical process of transforming the shells into natural dye.”
Textile chemical specialist Archroma already offers a range of dyes created from non-edible agricultural waste as part of its Earthcolors product collection.
Ternua claims it has already collected 300 kilogrammes of nut shells, which it says can be used to dye up to 10,000 garments.
It will release a capsule collection of clothing dyed using products created from these shells in time for the spring-summer 2019 season. The products will also feature post-consumer recycled cotton and recycled PET.
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