A new innovation project called FABULOSE is set to receive €3.5 million from the EU to develop animal-free leather alternatives made from biotechnologically produced cellulose.
11 European partners are involved in the project, working to create scalable and sustainable bio-based production routes for animal-free leather. Novis BioBased Technology, a company specialising in biogas plants, and vegan handbag manufacturer MELINA BUCHER are also involved.
Consulting and brokerage agency Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supported the German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research in submitting the proposal for the project. The funding will be provided over three and a half years as part of the Horizon Europe programme (Circular Biogases Joint Undertaking).
“Circular, sustainable, and scalable solution”
FABULOSE will use industrial CO2 off-gas and waste streams from the food industry as feedstock to produce bacterial cellulose and cyanophycin. The resulting materials will reportedly be fully bio-based, recyclable, biodegradable, durable, and tear-resistant. They will be designed for mass production using an efficient, cost-competitive roll-to-roll process.
The project aims to address the ethical issues associated with conventional leather production, while providing an alternative to plastic-based vegan leathers. Through biotechnology and circular production methods, it hopes to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower the carbon footprint of industries such as fashion, automotive, and upholstery.
“FABULOSE is not just about replacing leather; it’s about rethinking how we produce and consume materials,” said Iris Houthoff, coordinator of the project and researcher at the German Institute for Textiles and Fibers Research. “Our goal is to deliver a circular, sustainable, and scalable solution that aligns with the European Green Deal and sets a new benchmark for sustainable innovation.”
