Generation Phoenix will explore manufacturing processes to create polymer-free composite leather using reclaimed leather fibres and natural fibres like hemp, flax, and cellulose. Applying textile technologies in novel combinations, we'll replace existing binders with mechanical bonding. Working with NIRI's pilot facilities, we'll produce and test prototype samples against industry specifications, establishing feasibility for sustainable leather alternatives serving fashion and automotive markets.

In 2007, Gen Phoenix (previously ELeather) pioneered a radical new process that rescued leather offcuts destined for landfill and led a movement for sustainable manufacturing long before it was mainstream. Today, we continue to find new life in old waste, creating premium, durable materials for an ever-increasing set of applications and customers. Our capabilities now accommodate additional feedstocks, helping Gen Phoenix regenerate up to 6 million m2 of award-winning low-carbon materials annually. Our clients include Dr Martens, Coach and Southwest Airlines. The world's leading brands have searched exhaustively for a material that helps them reach their sustainability goals without sacrificing their standards. Meet the only recycled leather that doesn't just make big promises but delivers on them---with the means to scale sustainable innovations today, not tomorrow. There is always room for improvement, and this project with NPL focuses on advanced analytical systems to optimise the production of the next generation of our low-carbon, recycled leather-based materials.