Sustainable Textile Dyeing Using Indigenous Plant Resources: A Practice-Based Model for Eco-Friendly Colouration in Nigeria

Abstract

The escalating environmental and public health hazards associated with synthetic textile dyes have intensified global interest in natural, plant-derived colourants as sustainable alternatives. This study presents a practice-based model for eco-friendly textile colouration in Nigeria, drawing on indigenous plant resources abundantly available in Southwestern Nigeria. Fifteen plant materials were selected from three categories, leaves (neem, hibiscus/zobo, blood leaf/Justicia carnea, mango, and henna), tree barks (kapok/Ceiba pentandra, cashew/Anacardium occidentale, mango, neem, and guava), and roots/sheaths/peels (turmeric, brimstone/Morinda lucida, carrot, onion peels, and sorghum sheaths). Aqueous extraction was employed, and dyes were applied to cotton and silk fabrics using three mordants, alum, lemon juice, and cocoa pod ash solution, across pre-mordanting, simultaneous mordanting, and post-mordanting techniques. Spectroscopic characterization through UV-Vis spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis identified key functional groups including hydroxyl (O–H), carbonyl (C=O), and conjugated aromatic systems across all extracts. UV–Vis results revealed absorption peaks that validated the chromophoric properties of the extracts, with absorbance peaks from 3333.2 to 657 cm⁻¹, indicating variations in dye concentration and intensity. Fastness evaluation revealed that bark-derived dyes produced the highest ratings (Grade 4–5) on cotton, while alum mordanting consistently enhanced colour stability. The study proposes an integrated, practice-based model combining indigenous knowledge with modern analytical verification, demonstrating a viable pathway towards sustainable textile production, cultural preservation, and eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria.