Problem
According to the 2023 Global Risk Report, climate and environmental crises pose the majority of future risks. Among the sectors contributing to these crises, the textile industry, particularly the leather industry, stands out. Factors such as ethical violations in the production of animal leather, habitat destruction, waste generation exceeding 60%, high carbon emissions (up to 17kg/m2), and the use of harmful chemicals (such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc.) in production illustrate the significant environmental impact of these industries. Additionally, petroleum-based synthetic leather contributes to natural resource depletion (58 million tons annually), high carbon emission rates (15.8kg/m2), and the use of harmful chemicals (e.g., phthalates, dioxins, PVC), further exacerbating environmental issues. In recent years, the textile industry has shifted towards sustainable production principles in response to strategies like the EU Green Deal and sustainability reports. This shift includes efforts to replace environmentally harmful raw materials with sustainable alternatives and prioritize recycling. However, challenges such as accessibility and high pricing hinder the procurement of sustainable alternative materials worldwide. To comply with global sustainability principles and avoid taxation resulting from regulations, textile companies must prioritize sourcing sustainable, high-quality, and affordable alternative textile materials. Over the past decade, small, medium, and large-scale textile companies have undertaken sustainable initiatives, published environmental reports, and invested in sustainable practices, underscoring the importance of sustainability in the textile industry.
Çözüm
M-Based's developed technology enables it to produce mycelium-based vegan leather from mushrooms, completely eliminating the environmental and ethical issues associated with animal and petroleum-based synthetic leather. M-Based utilizes submerged fermentation for production. The process begins by extracting a 1 cm2 area of mycelium (the densest part) from the desired mushroom species and placing it in a nutrient medium for propagation. The growing mycelium is then transferred to a bioreactor for further multiplication. After mycelium growthing, the biomass undergoes purification. The purified biomass undergoes chemical processes such as bond breaking, cross-linking, and plasticization. Subsequently, it undergoes physical processes such as drying, hot pressing, and coating, resulting in mycelium-based vegan leather suitable for use in fashion, automotive, and furniture industries. Chemical and physical processes are completed within a day. The total production process takes 7 days. Designed in line with global development goals, the production processes result in mycelium-based vegan leather made from 100% biomaterials and green chemicals, making it 100% biodegradable. It emits 7.64 kg of CO2 per square meter and uses 5 liters of water per square meter. The production process generates almost zero waste. M-Based's mycelium-based vegan leather is plastic-free, durable, long-lasting, and ductile. It can be customized according to the customer's needs in terms of physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. With its specially designed production method for mass production, M-Based will have the production capacity to meet its customers' needs. This is a significant advantage for M-Based's goal of low pricing. In conclusion, M-Based aims to address environmental and ethical issues by providing its customers with mycelium-based vegan leather that matches the properties of animal and petroleum-based synthetic leather, adheres to all sustainability principles, and is cost-effective.
M-Based ile bağlantı kurmak ister misiniz?
Profilin tamamını görmek, girişimleri yapay zekâyla karşılaştırmak ve ekibe ulaşmak için StartupDeal'a kaydolun.