lecture: Axel Wähling, NIG Magdeburg

15.04.2024, Halle (Saale)

Axel Wähling, from NIG Natural Dyes, explained the extensive services offered by NIG GmbH, which range from application development and research to dye testing and consulting. Founded in 1991, NIG GmbH can draw on 30 years of experience. As one of the developers at NIG, Wähling emphasized the viability of natural dyes: “In the end, the price is the deciding factor. Technically, all requirements can be met with natural dyes.” He showcased examples like leather dyed with madder root to illustrate this point. Wähling highlighted common misconceptions about dyeing, noting that nature offers more diverse dye options than artificial methods. Despite this, 98% of textiles are dyed synthetically, posing challenges due to their difficult degradability and water treatment issues. NIG’s dyed materials range from fibers and hair to cosmetics and plastics. The company’s history of developments, patents, and progress is documented on their website. Their work relies heavily on historical knowledge, and they are researching topics like the origin of the red color in the Albanian flag to gain new insights.

thanks to:

Axel Wähling
from NIG Magdeburg
project:

The Plant Project
– Resilience Part II
year:2024
text by:Maëlle Ludwig