Leather-like materials dominate at bio-based summit
Anne Prahl
15th April 2021
The two-day online Next-Generation Bio-Based Alternative Materials Innovation Summit, held from 30 March – 1 April 2021, in collaboration with the Material Innovation Initiative, brought together innovators from start-ups and biotech companies with fashion brands, suppliers and manufacturers, to explore the challenges and opportunities in the successful commercialisation of bio-based materials and technologies.
Engineered & bio-fabricated leather alternatives
In her opening keynote ‘Growing Next-Gen materials’, Nicole Rawling, Executive Director at Material Innovation Initiative, made the case for animal-free material innovation, which could outperform animal-derived materials in terms of sustainability, ethics, price and aesthetics. In particular, Rawling highlighted the material waste issues for bovine leather production, which are due to the biological constraints of the cow.