In Estonia, Gelatex Technologies has won the 2019 Green Alley Award for its leather alternative made from gelatine, a waste material from the meat and leather industries. The biodegradable material does not require the use of any toxins, and unlike traditional leather, can be made to custom thickness and texture.
“With Gelatex we want to offer an alternative to leather that is both more environmentally friendly and more affordable,” Märt-Erik Martens, CTO of Gelatex Technologies, tells Fibre2Fashion.
The Green Alley Award is a European prize for startups in the circular economy awarded by sustainable consultancy Landbell Group. “Startups are important actors in a sector that is increasingly striving for innovation,” says Jan Patrick Schulz, CEO of Landbell Group. “Gelatex Technologies has not only developed an idea, but something with great market potential.”