Alt Materials

The fashion industry emits 8.3 million tonnes of methane every year, and animal-derived materials are primarily to blame. Experts say non-action would mean climate and health disasters. Leather, cashmere and cotton are pushing fashion…
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Australian accessories brand Bellroy has debuted a new range of iPhone and AirPods cases that ditch leather for an animal-free alternative. When Apple announced it was replacing leather with an in-house, eco-friendly alternative during…
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South Korean carmaker Hyundai has partnered with US biomaterials startup Uncaged Innovations to develop animal- and plastic-free leather alternatives for its vehicles. Hyundai is the latest auto giant to embrace sustainable leather,…
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Singapore's Greenitio has closed a $1.5 million seed funding round to turn mushroom-based chitosan into functional biopolymers for cosmetics and specialty chemicals. A biotech startup from Singapore has attracted $1.5M from investors to…
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US biotech startup Cultivated Biomaterials has created Angelry, a line of jewellery made with the cultivated leather from the cells of a sanctuary-grazing cow. Beef may be the cattle industry's climate Achilles' heel, but its…
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Seaweed packaging pioneer Notpla piloted a rugby-ball-inspired sustainable drinks carrier at last month's match between England XIV and France XIV. While England and France's rugby players battled it out at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium…
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Animal-free leather startup Modern Meadow has signed a deal with auto giant Mercedes-Benz to develop an alternative material for its technology programme. Mercedes-Benz has become the latest carmaker to attempt to ditch conventional…
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Swedish eco-materials innovator Circulose has launched a scale-up platform and notched partnerships with H&M and Mango to advance circularity in the fashion industry. Circulose, the Swedish materials firm known for its…
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British material science company Pangaia has debuted 365 Seamless Activewear, a five-piece collection featuring bio-based nylon and an elastane alternative with 98% renewable resources. To reduce the clothing industry's reliance on…
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London-based Solena Materials has secured $6.7M in seed funding for its microbial protein fibres, which are created using AI and provide a plastic-free alternative for the fashion industry. Making fibres from microbial proteins, Solena…
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French startup Faircraft has acquired the assets of fellow lab-grown leather maker VitroLabs in a bid to reach industrial-scale production of the alternative material. In a major consolidatory move in the nascent lab-grown leather…
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US startup Hiro Technologies has unveiled MycoDigestible Diapers, which come with plastic-eating fungi that break the material down in landfill. What can mycelium not do? It can feed humans, stand in for leather, turn into sustainable…
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Eco fashion pioneer Pangaia has launched (gaia)PLNT Nylon, a sportswear capsule collection derived from a bio-based, fossil-free monomer. British material science firm Pangaia has unveiled its latest sustainable clothing innovation,…
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Food delivery giant Just Eat Takeaway's German arm has introduced plastic-free food boxes using Xampla's plant-based, 100% biobased Morro Coating. In addition to its partnership with seaweed packaging maker Notpla, Just Eat Takeaway has…
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Colgate-Palmolive has teamed up with NoPalm Ingredients to make a sustainable soap bar from a fermentation-derived palm oil alternative. Soon, you could be using soap made from food waste and fermentation. The climate kicker? It's made…
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Dutch cultivated pork pioneer Meatable broadens its horizons beyond food through a partnership with animal-free leather maker Pelagen. As it awaits the go-ahead from regulators in Singapore, cultivated meat startup Meatable already has…
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In partnership with an Italian premium fashion mill, Japanese materials innovator Spiber has produced cashmere blends and worsted yarn with its fermentation-derived Brewed Protein. Sustainable protein is on the rise in Japan.…
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As awareness about the environmental and welfare detriments of the textile industry grows, a new crop of startups is developing novel alternatives to change the way we dress and live. If things continue the way they are, the fashion…
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Unilever has partnered with biotech firm Nufarm to produce oil from the entire sugarcane plant and replace fossil fuels from its laundry and beauty products. From laundry detergents to soaps, most cleaning products contain surfactants…
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Already working with major luxury brands, French cultivated leather startup Faircraft has raised $15.8M in funding to scale up operations. France may be the second largest exporter of leather in Europe, but a company based in its…
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Uggs has released a long-awaited line of vegan shoes and socks with New York's Collina Strada but as with many animal-free alternatives to conventional materials, the plastic waste cost remains high. After years of calls from consumers…
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