A consortium of UK-based organisations has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first plastic-free, toxin-free and fully biodegradable reflective pigment. The discovery is the result of a collaboration between global materials science company Pangaia, University of Cambridge spin-off Sparxell, and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), one of the UK’s leading independent research and technology organisations.
The 18-month Elucent project, supported by Innovate UK, is described as demonstrating how science, engineering and design can combine to create sustainable colour technologies. The initiative stated that bio-based pigments had successfully moved from laboratory research to industrial readiness.
The project integrated Sparxell’s cellulose-based colour platform with Pangaia’s design expertise and MTC’s process-scaling capabilities. Working with London-based Orto Print Studio, Pangaia produced printed fabric prototypes and conducted durability tests, linking laboratory innovation to practical applications in fashion and other industries.
MTC oversaw the development of custom production systems and validated performance at an industrial scale to ensure the pigments could be produced beyond laboratory conditions. A commercial launch is planned for 2026.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
