Creative agency VML (a group company of WPP PLC), genomic engineering leader The Organoid Company, and sustainable biotechnology pioneer Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. (a group company of BSF Enterprise PLC - LSE:BSFA) today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to lead the way towards a more sustainable and ethical future for the luxury materials industry.
The new collaboration will start developing and producing a high-quality alternative to traditional leather that’s cruelty-free and eco-friendly. There’s one more detail that makes this groundbreaking new material really special: it’s engineered using T-Rex DNA.
The new venture combines VML Netherlands' creative innovation expertise, The Organoid Company's advanced genome engineering capabilities, and Lab-Grown Leather's proprietary Advanced Tissue Engineering Platform (ATEP™), to create a next-gen material that could shape the future of luxury goods while advancing sustainable manufacturing practices.
Using fossilized T-Rex collagen as a blueprint, the production process will involve engineering cells with synthetic DNA, designed by The Organoid Company, which are then integrated into Lab-Grown Leather's Elemental-X™ product stream. Unlike other bio-based alternatives, Lab-Grown Leather’s "scaffold-free" approach allows cells to create their own natural structure, resulting in a material that is structurally identical to traditional leather.
Dinosaurs evolved to survive in extreme environments—conditions our planet is once again beginning to face due to accelerated climate change. This offers a new lens through which to explore ancient biology as a blueprint for next-generation, lab-cultivated materials. Engineered using Lab-Grown Leather Ltd.’s advanced tissue engineering platform, T-Rex leather is a cell-grown performance material that goes beyond imitation—offering natural durability, repairability, and the tactility expected in high-end leather goods.
As the first-ever example of leather developed from a prehistoric species, T-Rex leather represents not just a sustainable alternative but a pioneering step in exploring how ancient biology can inspire sustainable, high-performance materials in the future.
The environmental and ethical implications of bio-engineered leather are significant. Traditional leather production is linked to extensive deforestation, and established leather tanning processes often involve the use of harmful chemicals like chromium, which can lead to pollution. The new T-Rex leather technology - like other forms of Elemental Leather™ from Lab-Grown Leather Ltd - offers a path to dramatically reduce these environmental impacts while eliminating animal cruelty concerns associated with traditional leather production.
Initial applications will focus on accessories, with the ambition to produce a luxury fashion item as its flagship commercial product by the end of 2025. Following this proof of concept, increased production will open up opportunities to expand into sectors beyond fashion, such as the automotive industry. The material is fully biodegradable while maintaining the durability and repairability of traditional leather, offering a sustainable, cruelty-free, and traceable alternative for future generations of consumers, who demand both innovation and environmental responsibility.
Professor Che Connon of Lab-Grown Leather added: "Our proprietary advanced tissue engineering platform has once again proven its versatility. By collaborating with VML and The Organoid Company, we're unlocking the potential to engineer leather from prehistoric species, starting with the formidable T-Rex. This venture showcases the power of cell-based technology to create materials that are both innovative and ethically sound."
Thomas Mitchell, CEO of The Organoid Company, commented: "This project is a remarkable example of how we can harness cutting-edge genome and protein engineering to create entirely new materials. By reconstructing and optimizing ancient protein sequences, we can design T. Rex leather, a biomaterial inspired by prehistoric biology, and clone it into a custom-engineered cell line. At The Organoid Company, we’re passionate about pushing the frontiers of synthetic biology, not just to transform medicine, but to support companies like Lab-Grown Leather and VML to pioneer sustainable alternatives for the materials of tomorrow."
"With T-Rex leather we’re harnessing the biology of the past to create the luxury materials of the future. This groundbreaking collaboration represents the intersection of creative innovation and cutting-edge biotechnology, much like we did with our Mammoth Meatball project" concluded Bas Korsten, Global Chief Creative Officer, Innovation & CCO EMEA at VML. "We are at a point in our industry's history where we need to productise our creativity. The production of T-Rex leather demonstrates VML’s commitment to pioneering new grounds and shaping the future of our industry."
