In the search for alternative textile innovations, there are no limits to the imagination – bananas, fish scales and recently also crab shells are already being used. Leather-like materials in particular are in demand in the fashion and luxury industries. Now beer has also been discovered as such a potential alternative to leather, which is also completely plastic-free.
But don’t worry, for beer lovers, hops and malt are not lost yet, because firstly, the invention is yet to be scaled up commercially and, secondly, only barley waste from beer production is used, not the cool liquid itself.
New textile innovation made from beer is completely plastic-free
The inventor is the London company Arda Biomaterials, which recently secured an investment of 1.1 million British pounds (almost 1.3 million euros). The Clean Growth Fund invested alongside others such as Plug and Play, Serpentine Ventures, Satgana and a group of angel investors from the fields of alternative proteins, fashion and climate-tech ecosystems.
“Many people believe that leather is a by-product of cows; in reality it is more of a by-product that subsidizes the continued existence of animal husbandry. Brewer’s spent grains are typically incinerated, disposed of in landfills, anaerobically digested to gas, or fed to animals as cheap fodder – all very low-value uses. I’m thrilled that we can skip the cow to create a truly novel product that has previously been 100 percent animal and plastic free,” said Arda CEO Brett Cotten.
Arda was founded in 2022 by Edward TJ Mitchell and Brett Cotten, who met through global talent investor Entrepreneur First. Mitchell has a PhD in chemistry and Cotten has experience across the alternative protein sector, from start-ups to investors. The company is currently working with breweries along south London’s ‘Bermondsey Beer Mile’, which was once home to the city’s leather tanneries.
“The advent of cheap plastics has wiped out a century of innovation in using natural resources to manufacture materials. Now, with sustainability in mind, we are discovering that nature provides all the building blocks needed to create beautiful and sustainable materials. Leather is particularly resource-intensive to produce, and current alternatives are plastic-riddled. The chemistry of grain waste is ideal for being converted into a material that has many of the properties of leather and more,” adds Arda’s chief technology officer, Mitchell.
“We are delighted to invest in Arda Biomaterials and support the commercial development of their work: it is a truly innovative solution to a significant environmental challenge. Arda’s technology has the potential to transform traditional leather production and significantly reduce the environmental impact of high-polluting sectors. We look forward to working with Brett, Edward and the team to bring this exciting technology to market,” commented Susannah McClintock, Investment Director at Clean Growth Funds.
The Clean Growth Fund was launched in May 2020. The £101m venture capital fund supports the UK’s most promising clean growth companies that are pioneering the reduction of carbon emissions in the power and energy, buildings, transport and waste sectors. In addition to Arda, he has invested in 13 UK cleantech companies to date.
With the cash injection, Mitchell and Cotten expect to produce a finished material in the next 12 months that can be sold to brands and retailers.
“Now we can drink our beer and wear it too. This round of funding, led by the Clean Growth Fund, will allow us to develop a finished material that we can sell to brands and put into the hands of consumers,” confirms Cotten.