BIO-VERA to initially be used in variety of Esbeco affiliate products including acoustic wall coverings and upholstered furniture to meet customer sustainability demand
NUTLEY, NJ, October 29, 2024 – Modern Meadow, a leader in sustainable materials, today announced that it has partnered with Esbeco, a leader in the leather industry since 1978, which will operate as a buyer for its BIO-VERA® sustainable alternative material. BIO-VERA is a renewable, plant-derived biomaterial designed to easily integrate into existing production processes used by industries such as furniture, automotive, apparel and fashion accessories. Based in the Netherlands, Esbeco will import the next-generation material as a finished product made to its specifications. Esbeco will further customize the material at its own facility and has plans to initially distribute BIO-VERA to its affiliated companies, Alphenberg and Jess Design, for use in the production of acoustic wall coverings and upholstered furniture, respectively.
“Given Modern Meadow’s capability to produce over 500,000 square meters per year of BIO-VERA, our partnership with Esbeco allows them to immediately meet growing commercial customer demand for a high-quality, animal-free and sustainable material alternative that simplifies existing supply chains,” said Modern Meadow CEO David Williamson, PhD. “As Esbeco will utilize their own finishing facility to create custom finished hides using our biomaterial, they will have full control to quickly implement BIO-VERA for their discerning and environmentally conscious customers, as well as for their own collections.”
BIO-VERA is made with more than 90% renewable carbon content and crafted using Modern Meadow’s proprietary Bio-Alloy® technology platform, a flexible mix of plant-based proteins and polymers. This approach allows Esbeco to reduce reliance on animal and petroleum-based products without sacrificing quality, performance, desirability and feel.
Unlike a conventional import and export trader, Esbeco purchases materials to finish at its own plant and specializes in supplying decorative hides, belt leather and upholstery leather. Using its technical knowledge, Esbeco works with an international network of private labels, retail chain stores and manufacturers to add value and distinguishing qualities to its products. With BIO-VERA, Esbeco will be able to scale sustainable finished materials for its affiliates and customers.
“We have been on a long journey in search of the right biomaterial that looks, feels and naturally ages like traditional leather and suede that will also help us push design and sustainability boundaries,” said Vincent Bergmans, co-owner of Esbeco. “We have always said, ‘leather should look like leather,’ and when we showed our customers Modern Meadow’s BIO-VERA, they could not see a difference between it and real leather or suede. By using BIO-VERA, we are offering our customers design flexibility and the opportunity to make serious sustainability progress and claims when marketing their products worldwide.”
Alphenberg and Jess Design are expected to begin selling products made with BIO-VERA in select regions in November 2024. These products are the first stemming from Esbeco and Modern Meadow’s partnership with additional applications to come.
Textile Insight