Israeli startup using algae to solve fashion’s environmental woes

In Israel, a startup is converting algae into natural fibers and dyes in an effort to combat the heavy environmental cost of the fashion industry. 

Founded in 2016 by fashion industry veteran Renana Krebs, Algaeing sources its algae from Algatech, another Israeli company that uses solar energy, seaweed, and vertical farming techniques to produce algae. Algaeing converts this algae into natural dyes or combines it with cellulose to produce fibers suitable for textile manufacturing. 

“Algaeing and Renana [Krebs] are addressing three key pain points of the fashion industry: the reliance on freshwater to grow fibers; the use of chemicals, both in pesticides for growing fibers and also dyeing textiles; and thirdly, energy use,” says Erik Bang, innovation lead, H&M Foundation tells CNN. “We need legislators to change the playing field, and tilt it so much more in the favor of circular and sustainable practices, and punish the old habits.” H&M Foundation is a non-profit partially funded by the owners of fast fashion brand H&M.  

According to WWF, the global fashion industry accounts for a tenth of global carbon emissions, and in the US, less than a fifth of textiles are recycled.