Seeking Innovations to Renew and Strengthen Fibers during washing clothes

Laundry products, including detergents and fabric finishers, should not only remove dirt but also provide thorough textile care—preserving color, preventing greying, and enhancing fabric longevity through improved dye fixation, pilling resistance, softness, moisture management, comfort, fiber strength, elasticity, and shape retention.

A key goal is fiber protection to avoid breakage, as repeated washing can thin fibers, eventually causing holes. While cellulase enzymes are commonly used to reduce fuzz, pilling, and fiber friction in cotton, they can also degrade cotton fibers, which undermines the goal of fiber preservation. Additionally, cellulase enzymes are ineffective on other important fabrics, such as polycotton blends, synthetics, silk, and wool.

The company is seeking:

• Treatments that maintain the appearance of new textiles for longer and give older textiles a renewed effect after a maximum of 5 washing cycles.
• Surface modification (e.g. coatings) that protect the textile from environmental damage and wear.
• Treatments that make textiles repel substances like oil or dirt.
• Fiber/textile bonding to improve textile strength and integrity.

Must haves

• Solutions should ultimately be effective in in-wash applications at 30°/40° C as well as cold wash (relevant for US)
• Solutions should be suitable for incorporation in detergent or fabric softener/finisher formulations at realistic concentrations
• Solutions should be compatible with common detergent ingredients, e.g. enzymes, surfactants, builder, fragrances, etc.

Discarded solutions:

• Solutions that are not biodegradable. Solution should be biodegradable , prioritizing consumer-friendly solutions by integrating technology seamlessly into existing formulations, ensuring ease of use, skin safety, and environmental sustainability.
• Laundry additives, e.g. sprays before or after wash (not consumer-friendly). Not consumer- friendly additives
• Solutions that negatively affect the fragrances/perfumes used in detergents.
• Solutions that negatively impact the overall wash performance and textile properties.
• Solutions that contain cellulase enzymes since these are well-known.

Other Important Requirements:

• Legal: Freedom to operate
• Environmental: Ecological & toxicological data as per OECD/EU test guidelines and Biodegradability data according to OECD test guidelines
• Cost: Estimated cost-in-use (e.g. $ xy/washload)how much will it cost per washing cycle, or $ xy/kg: how much will be the estimated ingredient price
• TRL level : 3-7 ( 3. Experimental proof of concept 4. Validated in lab conditions 5. Validated in relevant environment 6. Demonstrated in relevant environment 7. Regulatory approval)
• IP Management Requirement: Technology/chemistry remains with tech partner, The seeker holds the formulation/application

Key Business objectives to be achieved:

• Grow business and build significant point of difference in the market
• Focus on consumer perceivable benefits

Collaboration opportunities:

The desired business relationship includes multiple options, with a focus on potential partnerships, research collaborations, and investment opportunities.