A UK-based biotech company recently achieved a significant milestone by producing a larger size of cultivated skin tissue at its laboratory in Newcastle. The company, Lab-Grown Leather (LGL), formerly known as 3D Bio-Tissues, is owned by BSF Enterprise. It focuses on creating lab-grown leather using cells directly sourced from animals. This leather is intended for use in the luxury goods market, specifically for producing high-end items that require ethically sourced materials.
Earlier this year, LGL managed to produce a piece of animal skin tissue that measured up to 10x10cm, with a thickness of over 2mm before tanning (2.8mm post-tanning). This was a significant improvement over their previous display, which featured a thinner sample of 0.5mm at the Future Fabrics Expo in June. The company’s ability to scale up the size and thickness of the lab-grown tissue marks a notable step forward in tissue engineering.
According to Dr Che Connon, managing director of BSF Enterprise, the company has now developed a codified Standard Operating System that can be shared and implemented by other companies. This system allows them to develop lab-grown leather using LGL’s innovative technology. Dr Connon highlighted the potential of their technology to address some of the fashion industry’s most pressing ethical and environmental issues. He expressed confidence in the speed of technological progress and the readiness of their process to transition from the research phase to a pilot-scale manufacturing operation. This next step will allow the company to refine its scaling techniques and provide limited quantities of lab-grown leather to industry partners.
LGL’s lab-grown leather is created using immortalised cells, which are collected from adult animals through a bioethically sound and painless procedure. Importantly, the leather they produce is free from supporting materials like plastics or cellulose. The process relies on City-mix, a serum-free and animal-free cell culture media supplement that not only accelerates tissue formation but also reduces production costs. This innovative approach helps make the entire process more sustainable and affordable.
The lab-grown leather is expected to share a key characteristic with traditional farm-grown leather: biodegradability. It is predicted that the material will break down naturally over a period of 10 to 50 years, making it a more environmentally friendly alternative for the fashion industry.
The progress made by LGL is paving the way for the wider adoption of lab-grown leather, offering an ethical and sustainable solution for high-end fashion goods without compromising on quality or environmental impact.
BSF Enterprise plc (LON:BSFA), the owner of pioneering UK-based clinical and cellular agriculture company 3D Bio-Tissues, is unlocking the next generation of biotech solutions. It is achieving this through an acquisition-led growth strategy to drive the development of lab-grown tissues.
