German products and services provider for the textile industry Dystar has received the Lillehammer Award for the electrochemical dyeing project carried out in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck's Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics (TID) in Dornbirn, Austria, and Getzner Textil AG.

The electrochemical dyeing technology enables recycling of dyebaths, reducing chemicals, water consumption and effluent output. The patented technology combines an electric current with a recyclable mediator. It replaces the non-regenerative reducing agents currently used to apply vat and sulphur dyes to textiles, which often prevent recycling of the dyebath and cause contamination of production effluent.

The Lillehammer award is presented annually for projects supported by European research initiative EUREKA that make a contribution to improving environmental protection in Europe. The prize was awarded at a recent European Conference of Ministers in Prague.