News Article
Fabulose partners met in Istanbul to advance bio-based leather alternatives
From 29 to 30 September, the Fabulose consortium gathered in Istanbul to review the progress made during the first 16 months of the project and discuss the next steps towards developing vegan, circular and bio-based leather alternatives from bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments.
Hosted by project partner SUMATRIX BIOTECH at its facilities in the Marmara University Technopark in Istanbul, the meeting gave the consortium valuable insights into the company’s work through a guided tour of its laboratories, showcasing bacterial cellulose production and scale-up activities.
Progress after 16 months: From raw materials to first prototypes
During the first 16 months of Fabulose, project partners have worked together to advance the development and scale-up of key raw materials, including bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments. Building on this progress, initial trials with textile backings, coatings and pigments have explored how these materials can be combined and processed for leather-like applications.
The meeting in Istanbul was an opportunity to bring these different developments together. Partners shared their latest results, discussed current challenges and examined the first demonstrator samples. Based on this joint work, the next steps will focus on improving the materials and processing methods to achieve the required properties while gradually increasing the share of bio-based components.
Connecting the different production steps through a Digital Twin
Alongside the material development, Fabulose is developing a Digital Twin to bring together data from the different production steps. A first prototype was presented during the meeting, showing how material and process data can be linked and tracked throughout the production process. Partners will now test the prototype and share their feedback for its further development.
Integrating sustainability from an early stage
Alongside the technical development, Fabulose is looking at the environmental, economic and broader sustainability aspects of the new materials. An Eco Design Framework has been developed to support early design decisions and prepare for further Safe and Sustainable by Design assessments. Upcoming activities include carbon footprint calculations and investigations into the recyclability of the developed materials, as part of the project’s broader LCA and TEA activities. A social LCA will complement this work by looking at potential social impacts related to the developed materials and their production.
A closer look at bacterial cellulose production
In addition to the project discussions, partners had the chance see bacterial cellulose production first-hand. During visits to the NBUAM Centre at Marmara University and the SUMATRIX BIOTECH production facility, they explored the facilities, discussed bacterial cellulose samples and selected materials for further testing and analysis.
What comes next?
The discussions in Istanbul helped partners connect their latest results and define the next steps across the project. Over the coming months, they will continue working together to improve material formulations and processing, investigate recyclability, further develop the Digital Twin and assess the environmental performance of the materials.
