2022-05-11
- It feels incredibly good. I am very proud that Mounid won the Impact Maker category. I got a nice motivation from the jury that confirms that Mounid can make a big difference for the environment and that we want to see a colorful future without the expense of nature, says founder Ida Näslund.
The dyeing process is today the biggest environmental problem in textile manufacturing as it requires large amounts of chemicals, water and energy. Mounid, with Ida Näslund at the helm, is developing a sustainable alternative to conventional dyes for the textile and fashion industry. An ink made from microalgae that is both non-toxic and fully degradable.
- Implementing Mounid's algae ink in textile production has the potential to make a big difference and become the missing piece of the puzzle to change the textile industry's system. From being a linear "take-make-waste" system that is currently built on fossil-based textile color, to being able to work fully circularly with a completely new kind of bio-based color, which is also produced by a renewable resource that can be produced environmentally friendly, scalable and locally and which also does not compete with land-based cultivation. This is fully in line with the entire textile industry to achieve ambitious sustainability goals.
Ida Näslund has a strong passion for color and form but also for nature and has worked with designing clothes and patterns on textiles. When she couldn't find a truly sustainable textile color that worked in resource-efficient digital machines, it was natural to try to find a solution. And that's the way it is.
- The main goal now is to launch the algae ink on the market in 2023, develop a pilot production and also expand the team. I will also start looking at raising funding for market launch and production. After that, I want to reach out globally and be able to show the environmental benefit that Mounid has created by companies starting to use Mounid's algae ink in production.
Mounid is part of Innovatum Science Park's incubator in Trollhättan. Mounid also receives support via Innovatum Science Park's subsidiary Wargön Innovation, which enables the production of future materials.
"By tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, the jury sees great potential that can bring new business opportunities and create positive global impact. With creative use of resources, the company can change our approach to the environment and explore beneficial synergies. The team claims to help bring real change to an industry that really needs it.
The jury commends this colorful idea that can have multiple ripple effects and cleverly uses nature to protect nature."
