Funding boost for eco leather
A homegrown leather alternative startup is stepping closer to commercial scale with fresh Federal funding.
Alt. Leather, a creator of alternatives to animal and synthetic leathers, has secured $1.15 million from the government’s Industry Growth Program.
The Australian startup is on a mission to reimagine leather without the environmental baggage, and the grant is set to accelerate the company’s R&D and help scale up production.
Alt. Leather transforms agricultural byproducts and other bio-based ingredients into high-performance leather-like materials, designed for the fashion, home interiors and automotive industries.
Its material aims to combine performance and aesthetics, while keeping the footprint lighter than that of traditional animal leather or plastic-based synthetics.
“The grant marks a key milestone as we prepare to move toward commercial production,” Alt. Leather said in a statement.
“This funding recognises the need for better alternatives to both animal leather and plastic-based synthetics, and supports our next steps toward scaled production of a 100 per cent bio-based leather alternative.”
The grant will enable Alt. Leather to deepen R&D, expand its team, and move into pilot production in what the startup describes as “critical stages in bringing our material to market at the quality, consistency and scale required by global brands”.
From crop to craft
Alt. Leather’s journey began over two years ago when founder Tina Funder teamed up with material scientists led by Dr Tuan Nguyen to explore the potential of agricultural biomass and regenerative plant-based materials at the molecular level.
The startup has since gained momentum, taking part in CSIRO Kick-Start and RISE Accelerator programs, and gaining financial backing from Wollemi Capital Group and CSIRO-linked investor Main Sequence.
“The grant marks a key milestone as we prepare to move toward commercial production.”
Alt. Leather also last year began small-scale testing in Melbourne and high-volume prototyping in India to refine its materials and manufacturing processes.
In a high-fashion debut, Alt. Leather’s materials recently featured in Yuima Nakazato’s ‘GLACIER’ collection, unveiled last month at Paris Haute Couture Week.
“After three years of R&D, to see our 100% bio-based leather alternative brought to life on one of the most prestigious runways in the world is surreal,” said Funder of the collaboration.
“A huge thank you to Yuima Nakazato for his visionary approach to design and for embracing future materials with such purpose and creativity. Your work inspires us.”
The startup’s latest innovations have also been exhibited globally in recent months at The Functional Fabric Fair in New York and The Future Fabrics Expo in London.
Alt. Leather was recently named a finalist for Best Newcomer at the Governor of Victoria’s Startup Awards, and the startup says it’s also currently working on a pilot project with a leading Australian luxury brand, with further details to come soon.
Alt. Leather’s core material is made in Melbourne from agricultural byproducts and other plant-based ingredients, including its bio-based topcoat resin. Alt. Leather says the result is a leather alternative that contains zero petroleum-based plastics, no animal products, and is designed to be circular. It says its premium alternative matches the look, feel, and performance of traditional leather without the greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming or petrochemical processing. This delivers a climate impact three times lower than traditional animal leather, and 1.8 times lower than petroleum-derived synthetics, according to its maker.
