As we reported in December, Mercedes Benz had been in discussions with Lewis Hamilton. He had been negotiating with the luxury car manufacturer to stop the use of animal leather for its interiors. Partly in response, it has been reported that the company is incorporating environmentally-friendly materials throughout its vehicles.
Modern Meadow Partners With Mercedes-Benz to Develop Animal-Free Car Interiors
US-based sustainable materials producer Modern Meadow has entered into a development partnership with Mercedes-Benz. As part of the collaboration, the latter has used Modern Meadow’s INNOVERA™ material to develop an animal-free leather alternative for its technology program, the CONCEPT AMG GT XX. The material contains chemically recycled AMG GT3 racing car tires, plant-based proteins, and biopolymers. It is said to replicate key properties of the collagens found in traditional leather, meaning it offers similar levels of design freedom. The leather alternative can be made with different finishes such as nubuck, full grain, or suede; a variety of colors and haptics can also be produced. The CONCEPT AMG GT XX program is designed to provide insights into an upcoming series-production sports car from Mercedes-AMG. In the …