Sustainability problem:

Leather is a $100 billion global business. It is an industry tied to a complex and unreliable supply chain, challenged by price volatility and sourcing inconsistency due to the non-homogenous quality of the material. Research has shown that 20 to 30% of the raw material goes to waste.

The industry is dependent on animal skin, and is petrochemical and GHG intensive.

Technology:

 Fake or real? (source: Courtesy)

Modern Meadow is a biotechnology startup fabricating leather without animal skin. The company produces a fibrous protein called collagen by fermenting a specific strain of yeast. The collagen is then assembled and tanned to create a material that is almost identical to traditional leather.

Stakeholders:

• any company sourcing leather to manufacture its goods
• fashion and luxury industry with high margins and a pressing need to innovate
• traditional leather suppliers
• NGOs

Development/Implementation:

• Raise product and technology awareness
• Strategic B2B business development campaigns
• Product development partnerships with clients
• Further technology/advance to reduce the price of currently costly product and unlock mainstream markets beyond the luxury industry

Sources:

http://www.modernmeadow.com

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/fashion-tech/bof-exclusive-with-lab-grown-leather-modern-meadow-is-bio-engineering-a-fashion-revolution?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_campaign=c58e96867e-modern-meadow-s-biotech-revolution-burberry-s-arti&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d2191372b3-c58e96867e-417127961&