EU backs DITF's Fabulose project for eco-leather with $4.05 mn grant

The European Union has approved €3.5 million (~$4.05 million) in funding for the Fabulose project under the Horizon Europe (Circular Biogases Joint Undertaking) programme. Coordinated by the German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research (DITF) in Denkendorf, the three-and-a-half-year initiative , which began on June 01, 2025, aims to develop scalable, bio-based production routes for animal-free leather alternatives that can replace animal-derived and plastic-based materials.

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, which supported DITF in securing the proposal with a perfect evaluation score of 15 out of 15, is a project partner responsible for management, exploitation, dissemination, and communication activities.

Fabulose brings together 11 European partners and follows the success of DITF’s earlier €6.5 million (~$7.53 million) BioFibreLoop project, also coordinated with support from Steinbeis Europa Zentrum.

Three key partners from Baden-Württemberg are participating. DITF coordinates the overall project. Melina Bucher, a vegan handbag manufacturer from Mannheim, will define market requirements and test the developed materials. Novis BioBased Technology GmbH from Tübingen will focus on optimising and scaling raw materials for coating to improve the functionality of bacterial cellulose. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, which connected the SMEs to the consortium, continues to facilitate collaboration across all workstreams, the company said in a release.

The project aims to revolutionise sustainable leather production by developing fully bio-based, recyclable, and biodegradable materials entirely free from plastics and toxic chemicals.

These leather alternatives will be derived from bacterial cellulose and cyanophycin, produced using industrial CO2 off-gas and waste streams from the food industry. The materials will be durable, tear-resistant, and suitable for mass production through roll-to-roll processes, ensuring cost competitiveness and efficiency.

Fabulose is expected to deliver significant benefits to the fashion, footwear, upholstery, and furniture industries by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon footprints. The project’s market-ready bio-leather will contribute to greater environmental sustainability, support Europe’s bio-based manufacturing leadership, and create new employment opportunities in material development, R&I, and business growth, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to a circular and climate-neutral economy.

“Fabulose is not just about replacing leather; it’s about rethinking how we produce and consume materials. Our goal is to deliver a circular, sustainable, and scalable solution that aligns with the European Green Deal and sets a new benchmark for sustainable innovation,” said Iris Houthoff, coordinator of the project and researcher at the German Institute for Textiles and Fibers Research.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)