EverDye, a Paris-based bio-dyeing start-up founded in 2021, secured Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) certification and a place among 20 European firms selected for the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant, the company announced October 5, 2026. The dual recognition lands at a moment when chemical management compliance sits at the top of brand sourcing checklists.

The ZDHC stamp confirms that EverDye's bio-based pigment chemistry meets the programme's Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), the reference standard for chemical management in textile and leather manufacturing. For brands running ZDHC-aligned chemical management systems across their chemical-using suppliers, the certification provides a procurement-ready signal rather than a marketing claim.

What does the certification cover in practice?

ZDHC certification attests to a chemical product's compliance with the MRSL, the list of substances prohibited or restricted during manufacturing. For EverDye, which uses affinity-based green chemistry to anchor pigment into fibre at room temperature, the compliance pass validates an alternative to high-temperature exhaust dyeing.

The process cuts energy consumption by a factor of eight and reduces CO2 emissions by 90% against traditional textile dyeing, according to company figures. Lower chemical residue, reduced water use, and what the company describes as richer, longer-lasting colours complete the technical pitch aimed at dye houses and brand chemical managers.

"The ZDHC certification confirms that it is possible to transform the dyeing process without compromising on chemical control," founder Dr Amira Erokh said. "This recognition gives brands and manufacturers a concrete guarantee for partnering with us."

How does the CEMATEX grant fit into the scale-up plan?

EverDye was selected in the "Colourants & Chemicals" category of the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant, alongside peers working on recycling, fibres, testing and automation. CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, runs the competitive grant to surface industrial-ready innovators ahead of ITMA.

The grant funds the company's participation at ITMA 2027 in Hanover, the four-yearly textile machinery exhibition often called the Olympics of the sector. ITMA draws machinery makers, brands, investors, and research centres, the audience EverDye needs to convert compliance status into commercial orders.

The company has not disclosed the grant value, current production capacity, or named brand partners. ITMA 2027 is the platform on which EverDye intends to make both visible.

What sourcing decision does this force for buyers?

Dyeing accounts for a disproportionate share of water draw, energy load, and effluent output across the textile chain. Mills and brand sourcing teams that have mapped their chemical management to the ZDHC MRSL now have a third-party-verified, low-temperature pigment option to test against incumbent exhaust-dye suppliers.

The technology sits upstream of garment assembly. Any pilot must clear the sourcing gate inside the mill before reaching brand-level material specification. ITMA 2027 is the practical deadline for those conversations.

"Color should never again come at the hidden cost to the planet," CEO Philippe Berlan said. "These recognitions tell us that the industry is ready to move from commitment to action, and we are ready to play our part."

The sourcing call for buyers: pilot EverDye's room-temperature pigment process against current dye-house partners before ITMA 2027, and verify the MRSL compliance file against the buyer's own chemical management standard before any offtake commitment.