Engineering Color: Reinventing Dyes with Microbes

What if one of the world’s dirtiest industrial processes could be reinvented—by microbes? Textile dyeing causes 20% of global water pollution, but Colorifix CEO Orr Yarkoni is flipping the script. In this episode, he explains how engineered microbes are replacing toxic dye chemicals with clean, modular, biological systems. Learn how Colorifix built a scalable, sustainable solution for color production—cutting carbon, chemicals, and water use—while tackling global supply chains and navigating complex GMO regulations. Tune in as biology rewrites the future of fashion.---Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on…YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!Timestamps:00:56 – Biology vs. chemical dyeing04:07 – Origins: arsenic biosensor to fashion07:22 – Why textile dyeing is broken12:05 – Mapping the supply chain19:36 – Modular bioreactors for scale23:44 – Fermentation hardware breakthrough28:15 – The challenge of making black32:44 – Strategic backing from IKEA & H&M34:54 – Scaling globally, sustainably40:44 – GMO regulation bottlenecksUseful links: Colorfix website: https://www.colorifix.com/Colorfix’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/colorfix/Orr Yarkoni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orr-yarkoni-48653095/Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/