Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech derived cellulose (FABULOSE)

In FABULOSE, 11 European partners are developing new scalable and sustainable bio-based production routes for animal-free leather alternatives. These are intended to replace animal-derived and plastic-based materials and processes. The project is coordinated by the German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research (DITF) in Denkendorf and receives €3.5 million in funding from the EU's Horizon Europe programme.

The consumer demand for sustainable and ethical leather alternatives is growing across the global market. Traditional animal-based leather production contributes to deforestation, emissions, and pollution, while artificial leather often relies on plastics, animal-derived materials, and harmful chemicals in tanning, with a negative effect on both the environment and human health.

FABULOSE seeks to tackle these challenges by developing scalable, bio-based production methods for animal-free leather alternatives using bacterial cellulose and cyanophycin. Industrial CO₂ off-gas and waste streams from the food industry are used as feedstock to produce these materials, which are completely free from toxic chemicals and plastics. The resulting materials are fully bio-based, recyclable, biodegradable, durable, and tear-resistant. The project is designed for mass production using a roll-to-roll process, making it both cost-competitive and efficient.

Through cutting-edge biotechnology and circular production methods, FABULOSE aims to reduce fossil fuel reliance and lower the carbon footprint of industries such as fashion, automotive, and upholstery. These high-performance, fully recyclable materials offer a sustainable solution to meet the rising demand for eco-friendly products.

Two SMEs from Baden-Württemberg are also partners in FABULOSE: MELINA BUCHER from Mannheim, a manufacturer of vegan handbags, and Novis BioBased Technology GmbH from Tübingen, an SME specialising in biogas plants with difficult-to-ferment substrates and the cultivation of microalgae.

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum assisted with the proposal writing and helped to ensure the approval with a score of 15/15 points. As a project partner, it supports project management and is responsible for the exploitation, dissemination and communication of project activities.

Further informations:

• Project name: FABULOSE - Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech derived cellulose
• Funding: European Commission, Horizon Europe, JU Circular Biobased Europe
• Funding budget for all partners: 3.5 million euros
• Project duration: 06/2025 – 11/2028
• Participating countries: Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Turkey