Bridging the Gap From Lab to Market for Biomaterials

Key Takeaways

  • 1. Moving from lab to market is the most critical phase in the development of biomaterials, where investment and brand partnerships can drive innovation, sustainability and profitability.
  • 2. Patient capital leads to long-term value. Early investment in biomaterials can support breakthroughs that align with new regulations, consumer demand and future-proofed supply chains.
  • 3. Brands must commit beyond capsule collections. Multi-year adoption, pilot programs and supply chain collaboration are needed to make biomaterials commercially viable and scalable.
Scaling biomaterials from the lab to the pilot stage is one of the most critical and exciting steps in unlocking their potential. It is also the step where support is most impactful. For investors, brands and society, this is a pivotal opportunity to drive positive innovation for people, the planet, and the bottom line.

The Challenges of Scaling Biomaterials

Scaling the production of biomaterials is a complex yet rewarding endeavour. Moving from the lab to the pilot stage involves addressing multiple interconnected challenges:

 

  • Raw Material Requirements: Sourcing inputs that meet scalability needs while maintaining quality and sustainability.
  • Operational Complexities: Managing utilities, logistics, and other operational factors on a larger scale.
  • Process Refinement: Small formulation issues in the lab can become magnified at scale, requiring careful optimisation.

 

These challenges underscore the importance of collaboration and support from industry and investors. With the right resources and partnerships, the transition from lab to market can unlock enormous positive potential for biomaterials.

Accelerating Progress from Lab to Market

The journey from lab to market is a critical phase for biomaterials, requiring coordinated efforts to refine processes, demonstrate performance and build reliable supply chains. While this stage demands investment and dedication, it also offers immense opportunities for growth and innovation.

 

Key areas of focus include:

 

  • Scaling Production: Ensuring consistent quality and scalability while optimising costs.
  • Proof of Performance: Demonstrating the material’s capabilities to meet industry standards.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with brands and supply chain partners to accelerate market readiness.

These steps are essential for biomaterials to become commercially viable and achieve widespread adoption.

Scaling biomaterials is not just a commercial opportunity; it’s an urgent necessity for the planet.

Why Patient Investment is Key

Investing in biomaterials, like our 100% bio-based leather alternative, is a forward-thinking opportunity that aligns with emerging market trends and regulations. While scaling requires initial commitment, the long-term rewards are significant.

 

Patient capital—investment that prioritises long-term impact over immediate returns—is especially valuable for supporting biomaterials through the critical scaling phase. By backing innovators early, investors can:

 

  • Unlock significant financial returns from groundbreaking technologies.
  • Contribute to solutions addressing environmental and ethical challenges.

 

Additionally, new regulations like the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the New York Fashion Act are driving brands to reduce their environmental impact. Switching to bio-based materials is one of the most effective ways to meet these requirements, as raw materials and their processing can account for up to 65% of a product’s environmental footprint, according to The State of Fashion 2023, a report by Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company.

The Role of Industry Brands

Industry-leading brands have a unique opportunity to shape the future of biomaterials. By moving beyond isolated capsule collections, brands can drive meaningful change by committing to sustained adoption and support.

 

Key actions include:

 

  • Long-Term Partnerships: Supporting R&D, manufacturing and supply chain development over multiple years.
  • Pilot Programs: Funding and participating in programs to test and refine biomaterials at scale.
  • Collaborative Ecosystems: Working closely with innovators to co-develop solutions and share insights.

By embracing these strategies, brands can gain access to exclusive materials, enhance product customisation and strengthen their sustainability credentials—all while aligning with consumer demand for ethical and eco-friendly products.

The Urgency of 100% Bio-Based Leather

Scaling biomaterials is not just a commercial opportunity; it’s an urgent necessity for the planet. Materials like 100% bio-based leather offer tangible solutions to the environmental crisis by:

 

  • Reducing reliance on resource-intensive industries like animal agriculture.
  • Lowering carbon emissions and other environmental impacts.

 

With sustained support, biomaterials like ours at Alt. Leather can transform industries such as fashion, automotive and furniture. This transformation is vital for the health of our planet, workers, consumers and animals.

What Brands and Investors Can Do

Scaling biomaterials requires a collaborative, long-term approach. Here’s how brands and investors can help:

 

  • Investors: Provide patient capital to support the transition from lab to market, recognising the long-term benefits of biomaterials.
  • Brands: Commit to multi-year adoption strategies, fund pilot programs and invest in shared infrastructure. Collaborate with innovators to build resilient ecosystems for biomaterial development.
By supporting material innovators, brands and investors can accelerate the adoption of biomaterials and drive meaningful change—for the benefit of people, the planet and the bottom line.

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