The global leather business is still mainly dependent on raising and slaughtering billions of animals. This, in the XXI century, is not only an inefficient and cruel process but it also creates a huge environmental impact. As the footwear industry is directly bound to the leather industry (about 65% of the world production of leather goes into footwear), the sustainability and environmental problems of leather manufacturing also affect the footwear industry.
Unfortunately, brands and shoe manufacturers do not have an ecological alternative to natural or synthetic leather. However, currently there is a clear trend towards the development of safer, toxic-free, sustainable, environmental-friendly, and more ethical footwear and leather goods.
The main objective of BacLEATHER project is to develop an eco-friendly like-leather material (BacLEATHER) based on a biotechnologycal approach (cultured leather) which require less time of manufacturing, no land or harmful chemicals, and much lower water and energy inputs. At high scale, cultured leather can provide a safe, sustainable and economical alternative to the traditional tanning industry involved in the footwear industry.
Therefore, the ultimate objective of this Phase 1 project was to analyse the feasibility of our business innovation project, with a major focus on its technical, operational/financial and commercial feasibility, for the successful commercialization of BacLEATHER, a sustainable, economic, and eco-friendly material leather-like, over the next years.