INNOVA-CV 2025 ECO-CACAO
Desarrollo y fabricación de nuevos tejidos sostenibles
The Instituto Valenciano de Competitividad Empresarial (IVACE) has awarded us a grant of 26.550,00 €, co-financed by the European Union at a rate of 45% through the Programa Operativo FEDER de la Comunitat Valenciana, for the project entitled “DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING OF NEW SUSTAINABLE FABRICS”, with reference number IMINOA/2025/104, submitted under the PROYECTOS DE INNOVACIÓN DE PYME (INNOVA-CV) – INNOVACIÓN DE PRODUCTO (INNOVAProD-CV) 2025 programme.
The objective of this project was to develop a new range of sustainable fabrics based on the printing of natural fabrics made from hemp and organic cotton blends, using pigments obtained from cocoa roasting residues. The development was focused on producing a collection of cushions designed according to ecodesign principles, using sustainable and locally sourced materials.
To achieve this objective, research was carried out on the valorisation of cocoa shells generated during the roasting process, transforming them into a pigment suitable for dispersion in a binder resin and subsequent application through textile printing techniques. In addition, work was undertaken to optimize the pigment particle size, formulate the printing pastes, select the appropriate printing screens, and define the most suitable designs to provide added value to the final product.
The project enabled progress in the development of a new range of sustainable products based on fabrics printed with recycled pigments, expanding the company’s portfolio towards higher value-added products and enhancing its differentiation through innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. The use of cocoa residues contributed to the valorisation of industrial by-products and to reducing the use of synthetic pigments, thereby promoting a circular economy model.
Furthermore, the incorporation of hemp fibres blended with organic cotton contributed to reducing the environmental footprint of the product due to the lower water consumption associated with hemp cultivation. The project was aligned with the objectives of the INNOVA-CV programme, making it possible to develop a collection of cushions printed with pigments obtained from cocoa shell residues on natural fabrics, achieving tangible results upon completion of the project.
