London startup Arda Biomaterials has developed a technology for making a leather alternative from spent grain, the waste left after brewing beer and whiskey. The material is usually used as animal feed, but the company has learned to extract plant proteins from it and rearrange their structure, creating strong chains similar to collagen.
The resulting material is close to natural leather in its properties: it is flexible, soft and durable. Its main feature is the complete absence of plastic. Unlike many other “plant-based” leather substitutes, it does not use synthetic binders: the production process is based on green chemistry principles.
The technology has already been tested: in collaboration with BEEN London, accessories including bags and cases have been released. In the future, it could be used in footwear, furniture and the automotive industry.
According to the company, the material’s carbon footprint is 96% lower than that of natural leather and 72% lower than that of synthetic leather. Commercial launch is expected in 2026. This is one of those rare cases where waste becomes not a problem, but a resource with a strong future.
