Vaishali Kulkarni and Arjun Singh, co-founders of KBCols Sciences, are on a mission to revolutionise the dye industry. With a passion for science and sustainability, they are developing natural dyes made from waste using microbes.

Chemical dyes in the textile industry pollute water, soil, and air with toxic compounds. These dyes cross entire food chains, causing biomagnification and negatively impacting ecosystems and human health.

While working on her PhD, Vaishali realised that treating polluted water from textile dyes wasn’t enough. “We aimed to tackle the root cause rather than deal with the consequences,” she says. This led to the creation of KBCols.

In 2018, KBCols received a government grant and began their work at the Venture Center in Pune. “We were incubated there, and our journey began in earnest in 2018,” Vaishali recalls.

While vegetable and flower-based dyes are natural, they have significant drawbacks. “For instance, growing specific crops or flowers necessitates extensive land resources and is often subject to seasonal variations,” says Vaishali.

KBCols uses agricultural waste, sugars, and salts to cultivate microbes in a vertical reactor. “Microorganisms possess inherent properties that enable them to produce colours,” she explains, adding that it ensures a reliable production process.

“Our approach involves utilising a blend of plant or vegetable colours. These colours can be cultivated within a vertical reactor, allowing for efficient production within a batch time of 16 to 24 hours,” she says.

Isolating colour-producing microbes is a meticulous process. “Even a tiny amount of soil, just one milligram, can yield thousands of microbes,” Vaishali shares.

Unlike traditional dyes, KBCols’ process doesn’t rely on petroleum or high temperatures. “Our colours are natural bio-colours, offering a reliable and sustainable solution,” she says.

Dye performance is critical in textiles. “Chemical colours often score a perfect five, while our natural colours typically achieve a rating of three to four for light fastness and five for washing fastness,” Vaishali explains.

KBCols debuted their colours at Lakme Fashion Week 2022. “Our official commercial launch is scheduled for either the end of this year or next,” she adds.

The company also plans to diversify into the cosmetics and food sectors, in addition to textiles. With a clear vision and drive, Vaishali and Arjun are focused on launching their product as soon as possible.