الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural dyes in textile applications. This is a result of the meticulous environmental standards imposed by many countries in response to the toxic and allergic reactions associated with synthetic dyes. Indeed natural dyes exhibit better biodegradability and are generally more compatible with the environment. Natural dyes are derived from natural resources; these are broadly classified as plant, animal, mineral, and microbial dyes. Natural dyes can be used for dyeing almost all types of natural fibers. Recent research shows that they can also be used to dye some synthetic fibers. Apart from their application in textiles, natural dyes are also used in the coloration of food, medicines, handicraft articles, and in leather processing, and many of the dye yielding plants are used as medicines in various traditional medicinal therapies. Tis book chapter attempts to review the classification of natural dyes and various sustainability issues involved in their production and application. Dyes derived from natural materials such as plant leaves, roots, bark, insect secretions, and minerals were the only dyes available to mankind for the coloring of textiles until the discovery of the first synthetic dye in 1856. Rapid research strides in synthetic chemistry supported by the industrialization of textile production not only led to the development of synthetic alternatives to popular natural dyes but also to a number of synthetic dyes in various hues and colors that gradually pushed the natural dyes into oblivion However, environmental issues in the production and application of synthetic dyes once again revived consumer interest in natural dyes during the last decades of the twentieth century. Textiles colored with natural dyes are preferred by environmentally conscious consumers and today there is a niche market for such textiles. But the total share of natural dyes in the textile sector is approximately only 1 % due to certain technical and sustainability issues involved in the production and application of these dyes such as non availability in ready-to-use standard form, unsuitability for machine use, and limited and non reproducible shades. Natural dyes per se are sustainable as they are renewable and biodegradable but they cannot fulfill the huge demand from the textile sector in view of the preferential use of land for food and feed purposes.