Bolt Threads boosts eco brands' access to Mylo vegan leather

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Nov 7, 2022

Bolt Threads is aiming to boost take-up of its vegan leather Mylo material in a way that rewards those brands committed to sustainability.

It said it will be offering preferential access to Mylo to brands that “commit to eliminating virgin animal leather from their product lines in a newly formed Greener Pastures Pledge”.

The news came on-stage at Web Summit with Ganni Founder Nicolaj Reffstrup and Bolt Threads saying the pledge was inspired by Ganni’s commitment to phasing out its use of virgin leather by 2023. 

Bolt said that Mylo is “under extraordinary demand as the company actively works to scale its supply chain with the opening of a new commercial facility, which is why preferential access will be granted to those brands who demonstrate a commitment to supporting the growth of new material innovations over animal-based materials”. 

Its Greener Pastures Pledge is designed to “galvanise brands to help the fashion industry move forward more responsibly. While no perfect solution exists today, a collective of brands publicly committing to using alternative materials and challenging the status quo is indicative of progress being made in the industry. Investments in innovation are necessary for creating real change for our future”. 

Bolt CEO and founder Dan Widmaier said: “We know how challenging it is for brands to alter their supply chains, and the brands that dare to do so in an effort to minimise their environmental impact deserve to be rewarded for their trailblazing efforts. The Greener Pastures Pledge is an incentive for those brands who are daring enough to make a real change by committing to high-quality, animal free alternatives—not only for their customers but also for our planet.”

Mylo is made from mycelium, the underground root-like system of fungi. Mushrooms are the fruits of mycelium and Mylo is widely known as ‘mushroom leather’. It’s certified bio-based, 100% animal free, chromium free, DMFa free, and is grown in vertical farming facilities that are powered by 100% renewable energy.