CITEVE Wins Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 for Revolutionary Bio-Based Textile Printing Pastes
Frankfurt am Main – April 2026 – Portuguese technological centre CITEVE has been awarded the Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the “New Chemicals & Dyes” category.
The accolade recognises CITEVE's pioneering work in transforming local waste from the industrial, food, and agricultural sectors into high-quality, sustainable textile printing pastes for fashion and home textiles, which will be showcased to an international audience at the upcoming Techtextil exhibition.
As the global textile industry faces an urgent need to reduce its environmental footprint, CITEVE is leading the charge toward ethical, sustainable practices.
The newly developed, patent-pending pastes are over 94 per cent bio-based and water-based, offering a vital alternative to conventional petroleum-based formulations.
This forward-thinking innovation addresses a critical industry-wide issue by significantly reducing the sector's reliance on fossil-based raw materials.
Instead of relying on traditional petrochemicals, the breakthrough formulations utilise binders and thickeners made from biopolymers, such as collagen and chitosan, which are derived from food-industry by-products.
Furthermore, the colour pigments are produced through the fine mechanical grinding, or micronisation, of waste materials including vine prunings, pine bark, and ash from biomass boilers.
The resulting particles measure less than 45 micrometres, ensuring full compatibility with rotary screen printing, one of the most widely used textile printing methods globally.
Augusta Silva, Innovation Manager for Textile Printing and Coating at CITEVE, said, “Our pastes are revolutionary because they enable sustainable textile printing by combining environmentally friendly formulations with industrial applicability. The Techtextil Innovation Award validates the excellence of our research.”
This vital development was achieved in collaboration with the research centre CeNTI and the company Lameirinho Indústria Têxtil.
The superior print quality and practical applicability of these new textile printing pastes can be experienced first-hand at Techtextil, where CITEVE will present the bio-based pastes and examples of printed textile products to an international professional audience for the first time.
About CITEVE
Based in Portugal, CITEVE is a leading technological centre dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability within the textile and clothing industries.
By championing forward-thinking research and ethical practices, CITEVE provides vital technological support, testing, and development services to propel the global textile sector toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
For more information, visit [Website].
About Techtextil and Texprocess
Techtextil is the leading international trade fairs for technical textiles, nonwovens, and the processing of textile and flexible materials.
Techtextil Frankfurt brings together companies, technology centers, researchers, and professionals from across the entire value chain. The event stands out as a key meeting point where the latest trends in textile innovation, advanced manufacturing processes, and applications in sectors such as automotive, construction, healthcare, and aerospace are showcased.
Held biennially in Frankfurt am Main, Techtextil provides a platform for the entire textile value chain, from research and development to production and recycling. The events showcase the latest innovations in high-tech fabrics, smart textiles, and advanced processing technologies
About Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurtis a leading global trade fair organiser with expertise in connecting industries and facilitating business relationships worldwide. .
The venue features a variety of halls, the Congress Center, and the Forum, with modern infrastructure to host events of any scale.
The organization also provides extensive event-related services and has a global presence with employees at numerous locations worldwide
The company is committed to driving sustainability and innovation across all sectors it serves, positioning itself as a thought leader in addressing industry-wide challenges whilst promoting ethical and environmentally responsible practices.
