To dye for, Green Chemicals seals deal with Harrods

Leeds-based Green Chemicals Plc, which has developed “cleaner, greener and safer” dye technology for use in the textile, health, beauty and personal care markets, said it has signed a licence deal with upmarket spa and hair treatment firm Urban Retreats. A range of hair dyes using Green Chemicals’ technology will be launched and tested at Urban Retreats’ 20,000 square foot spa in Harrods, London, and also at an Urban Retreats salon in Harvey Nichols, Manchester.

Green Chemicals chief executive Stephen Winston said: “The signing of the Urban Retreats licence marks a major step in commercialising the company’s revolutionary hair colorant technology.

“I am delighted to be working in their flagship Harrods outlet with Urban Retreats, with whom we shall be finalising our product range over the coming months.

“The global market for permanent hair colorant is in excess of £7bn per annum so the potential for the company is highly significant.

“Our innovative technology addresses a number of issues in the industry and has the potential to represent a revolutionary step-change in the hair colouring market.”

No figure was put on the potential earnings from the deal, but Green Chemicals will share a proportion of the sales from the 18-month trial.

In turn, Urban Retreats will take an unspecified proportion in royalties if Green Chemicals sells or licences the rights to the technology over the period of the agreement.

The deal covers the spin-out’s hair colouring and colour removal technology.

The company’s patented dye system completely eliminates the need for compounds such as para-phenylenediamine and para-toluenediamine, which are common in mass market hair dyes. The system also does not use ammonia or ethanolamine.

“The system’s performance gives high wash-durability, a high degree of light-stability and minimal hair damage, leading to a shiny, natural look and feel to the hair,” said the company.

Green Chemicals’ dyes can also be removed to return hair to its original colour, using its unique system, resulting in little or no damage, it said.

The company was formed in January 2007 when Primavera Capital, a newly-listed vehicle on PLUS Markets, acquired Perachem Limited, a University of Leeds spin-out.

Perachem was founded in 2005 by Professor David Lewis, a former professor of colour chemistry at the University of Leeds. He remains the company’s chief scientific officer.