London startup SAGES receives £190k funding to scale sustainable dye made from food waste

Investors in this round: British Design Fund

SAGES, a London-based startup developing sustainable dye alternatives, has received £190,000 funding from British Design Fund to accelerate the commercialisation of its colour technology derived from food waste.

Founded by Emily Taylor and Alice Simpson, who met whilst studying at London College of Fashion, SAGES was born out of a shared mission to eliminate toxic synthetic dyes from global supply chains.

Synthetic dyes, derived from petroleum and coal tar, are thought to be responsible for around 20% of global wastewater and to contribute to widespread environmental damage. SAGES offers a like-for-like replacement with water-soluble, biodegradable dyes made from food waste, designed to integrate seamlessly into existing dyeing processes.

The company’s patented dye formulations are derived from five waste streams – red onion skin, yellow onion skin, coffee, blueberry, red cabbage and avocado. They have been successfully tested across cellulose and protein fibres, achieving industry-standard results for UV and wash fastness.

Recent collaborations include custom colour development for Patrick McDowell’s London Fashion Week collection, countertop surfaces with James Burleigh, and fibre dyeing trials with Bananatex and Story Mfg.

Emily Taylor, CEO of SAGES, said: “Synthetic dye is used in everything from clothing to bedding and cosmetics. But this type of dye is highly toxic, carcinogenic and incredibly polluting.

“Alice and I worked in the industry for a combined 15 years before founding SAGES and witnessed both the damage synthetic dyes cause and the lack of easily adoptable solutions. The more we researched, the more passionate we became about finding a solution that was sustainable and could also meet the performance requirements of industry. With regulatory changes on the way and consumers pushing for greater traceability, we saw a real opportunity.”

Emily continued: “This funding will enable us to scale our impact and bring sustainable colour to industries that urgently need alternatives. We’re proud to be building a solution that’s not only high-performance but also rooted in circularity and environmental responsibility.”

The funding from British Design Fund will support product development, pilot-scale production, and strategic partnerships across fashion, interiors, and industrial textiles. It will support SAGES’ transition from lab-scale innovation to commercial deployment, as it focuses on expanding its dye palette, refining production systems, and deepening partnerships with manufacturers and designers.

Damon Bonser, CEO, British Design Fund, said: “SAGES is tackling a critical environmental challenge with a solution that’s both scientifically rigorous and commercially viable. The founding team brings deep expertise and a clear vision for scale, and we’re pleased to support their journey as they develop sustainable alternatives for industries in need of change.”

This communication is not intended as an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity.