Hyundai Explores Plant-Based Leather with Realistic Scent

The Rise of Sustainable Leather Alternatives

It’s a candid admission: my family possesses two vehicles, one featuring genuine leather and the other a “leather” imitation. The authentic leather provides a luxurious feel, while the alternative… simply doesn’t convincingly replicate it.

Innovative Materials from Uncaged Innovations

However, based on the materials I’ve recently examined, leather substitutes don’t necessarily need to feel artificial or contribute negatively to environmental concerns.

Traditionally, most faux leathers rely on plastics derived from fossil fuels. The samples from Uncaged Innovations, conversely, are primarily crafted from agricultural byproducts, including wheat, soy, and corn. The resulting texture closely mimics various types of genuine animal leathers.

Stephanie Downs, co-founder and CEO, explained to TechCrunch, “Leather isn’t a monolithic material. There are literally thousands of leather types – differing animals, thicknesses, and tanning processes. We needed to engineer a material that offered significant customization potential.”

Partnerships with Automotive Giants

Uncaged Innovations has exclusively revealed to TechCrunch its ongoing collaboration with Hyundai’s Cradle division. This partnership focuses on refining the material for use in the automotive industry.

The objective is to produce a durable, eco-friendly material that can replace traditional leather in cars and trucks. Uncaged asserts that its material boasts a carbon footprint 95% smaller than that of conventional leather.

Furthermore, last month the company announced a partnership with Jaguar Land Rover.

A Long History of Leather Substitutes

Alternatives to leather are nearly as old as the automotive industry itself, with early Ford Model T cars utilizing rudimentary faux leather as far back as 1913. While quality has improved over time, many alternatives still lack the tactile experience of genuine leather.

Addressing Waste in Traditional Leather Production

Currently, the startup’s materials are utilized in vegan handbags and watch straps. However, while fashion brands represent significant customers, automakers present an even larger potential market.

A single leather interior can require between two and fourteen cowhides, depending on the extent of leather coverage and the automaker’s quality standards. Given that cattle are raised outdoors, their hides often bear scars from insect bites or barbed wire. These imperfections lead to substantial leather wastage.

Uncaged’s factory-produced material offers a level of consistency unattainable with natural cowhides.

Cost and Performance

Downs stated that Uncaged’s product is positioned within the mid-market range compared to traditional leather. Smaller orders are priced under $10 per square foot, while larger orders may cost half as much. “This offers both environmental and financial benefits,” she noted.

The company is currently conducting tests for a variety of automotive manufacturers. Heat resistance is the primary challenge, but progress is being made.

“One automotive company requires performance at 95°C for 500 hours. In our initial experiments, we achieved 85°C and sustained that for the full 500 hours,” Downs explained.

Mimicking the Structure of Leather

Downs emphasized that Uncaged was able to more accurately simulate real leather by replicating its underlying chemical structure.

Genuine leather is created through the tanning of animal hides, a process that stabilizes the collagen proteins within.

“We began investigating hundreds of plant-based ingredients and their combinations to determine if we could create fibril structures,” Downs said. “Ultimately, co-founder Xiaokun Wang developed a method to transform plant proteins into these structures.”

Biodegradable Components and Customization

This material is then applied to a backing made from plant fibers. Both the backing and the plant-based leather material are biodegradable, according to Downs.

For many applications, a 0.01 mm layer of bio-based polyurethane, a type of plastic, is added. This layer “allows us to modify the appearance significantly and adjust the tactile feel. We can increase grip or create a super-smooth surface,” she clarified.

Mineral pigments are incorporated to achieve the desired color, and textures can be embossed. Furthermore, scents derived from flower extracts can be added. One sample on my desk emits a delicate, floral aroma.

The Potential for Signature Scents

“Automotive companies have expressed interest in developing exclusive signature scents for their vehicles. Handbag manufacturers have also inquired about replicating their signature fragrances,” Downs said. “The demand for this feature has exceeded my expectations.”