Archroma, a leading global specialty chemicals company, has garnered significant recognition at the Just Style 2025 Excellence Awards, securing major accolades in key categories. The company received the coveted Innovation Excellence Award for its bio-based PHOBOTEX NTR-50 durable water repellent (DWR) and the Environmental Excellence Award for its water circularity advancements at the Mahachai plant in Thailand.
These awards celebrate Archroma’s dedication to driving transformative change in the textile and fashion industry through innovative solutions that safeguard the environment while creating value for brands, manufacturers, local communities, and consumers.
Dhirendra Gautam, VP of Global Marketing and Strategy at Archroma, commented, “As an industry leader collaborating with brands and suppliers worldwide, we bear a significant responsibility to create impact by embedding sustainability in our innovations. Archroma tackles the industry’s most pressing challenges, such as developing cleaner, longer-lasting functional effects and minimizing water usage. We are proud to receive recognition from the Just Style Excellence Awards and will continue to prioritize people-centered sustainability for a better future.”
Innovative DWR Breakthrough
Archroma’s Just Style Excellence Award for Innovation was awarded for the development of a highly effective DWR that is both non-PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and non-formaldehyde, comprising 50% renewable carbon content per ASTM D6866. The PHOBOTEX NTR-50 not only delivers exceptional water repellency across various fibers but also offers a soft feel, enhancing the comfort of fabrics while improving their durability, making it ideal for sports apparel, outdoor gear, and home textiles.
Additionally, PHOBOTEX NTR-50 boasts excellent runnability, ensuring reliable performance and safety during production, even under high temperatures. This feature aids mills in addressing production challenges such as roller build-up, yellowing, and chalk marking. As a crosslinker-free solution, it can also be combined with other products to enhance wash and dry-cleaning resistance.
Advancements in Water Circularity
The Just Style Excellence Awards jury acknowledged Archroma’s innovative achievements in water circularity, particularly its Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology at the Mahachai facility in Thailand, which successfully reclaims 90%-95% of wastewater. By utilizing advanced technologies from global water treatment innovator Gradiant, the plant converts wastewater into clean water for reuse and recovers concentrated brine for applications like resin regeneration and chlorine production. This approach significantly lessens the plant’s reliance on local freshwater supplies, establishing a sustainable model for textile dye production within a circular economy.
The Just Style Excellence Awards recognize exceptional accomplishments and innovations within the global textile and apparel sector, encouraging companies to strive for excellence and promote positive change.
