Developing a sustainable and high performance biofabricated leather-like material

In the UK and globally the fashion industry has been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic with shifts in consumer demand and supply chain disruption. Moving forward, consumers are prioritising more durable, sustainable materials and products but the development and funding necessary to develop these has been disrupted.

Whilst novel biobased textiles are becoming more widespread, suitable alternatives to plastic based synthetic leathers are not able to meet industry requirements for aesthetics, performance and cost.

At Modern Synthesis we have developed and patented a novel biobased leather like material. The production process, developed in collaboration with academic experts combines biotechnology with innovation in processing and material science. The material life cycle has radically improved sustainability compared to synthetic and animal leathers. CO2 emissions are at least 10x lower and the material is recyclable or biodegradable with zero hazardous chemical or microplastic pollution at any stage.

This project will adapt the production process to utilise UK sourced waste biomass feedstocks and develop innovative processing to maximise the performance advantages of the material. We will also perform testing necessary to unlock product development collaborations with fashion industry partners.