GROWING
NEXT GEN
MATERIALS
INSPIRE. CONNECT. INNOVATE. SCALE.
THE
CHALLENGE
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword – it’s a demand. To date, the advancement of sustainable materials has not kept pace with this demand, compromising both environmental and economic goals. Top brands in fashion, automotive, and home goods are searching the globe for innovative, high-performance materials to satisfy this unmet need. Sustainable solutions must be scaled to build a thriving future for brands and the planet.
OUR
FOCUS
The Material Innovation Initiative accelerates the development of next-generation sustainable materials for the fashion, automotive, and home goods industries, with a focus on replacing animal-based materials. We work to shrink the environmental footprint of existing fibers, such as synthetics and cellulose, and to seed plant-based and lab-grown innovations.
IMPROVE THE PAST
CREATE THE FUTURE
We work with entrepreneurs, scientists, academics, brands, and retailers to bring better materials to the fashion, automotive, and home goods industries. This includes not only new innovations, but also improving on the circularity of materials commonly used as alternatives to animal material.
Sustainable materials are no longer the pleather of the 1980s. Advancements in technology are already revolutionizing the materials industry, from mushroom-based leather to man-made silk and wool. The Material Innovation Initiative accelerates the development of sustainable options through industry collaboration to increase the adoption of these better materials.
PETROLEUM-BASED
MATERIALS
PLANT-BASED
MATERIALS
LAB-GROWN
MATERIALS
THE FACTS
25
percent
10.5
million
80
percent
4
billion
of chemicals produced worldwide are used for textiles, many of which are then dumped into the environment
tons of clothing is sent to landfills each year in the US alone
estimated growth in the synthetic leather industry globally in the next five years
land animals are slaughtered, plucked, or sheared every year for the materials industry
PRIMED FOR
DISRUPTION
Consumers are demanding better and more sustainable products and brands and retailers are eager to meet this demand. Simultaneously, innovators are working on new technology to serve consumers and brands with improved materials. With targeted support and collaboration, we can harness the potential of this critical moment.
The timing is ideal.
NEXT GEN
INNOVATORS
Numerous companies are creating sustainable and cruelty-free materials. These are just a few of the innovations changing the materials industry. We are living in the next industrial revolution and this time it will be a clean one!
“Fashion companies must join forces to create an ecosystem that supports transformational innovation . . . especially for raw materials. Companies cannot overcome these challenges alone.”
- Pulse of Fashion 2018