Arda Biomaterials and Been London present a bag made from brewery waste

Last week, we reported on a company creating “cotton” from potato peels. This week, their “snake skin” is made from cereal waste from breweries.

In a “groundbreaking” partnership, Arda Biomaterials and Been London have co-produced a snakeskin-style bag using locally sourced products from London’s “Beer Mile” in Bermondsey.

A one-of-a-kind take on Been’s best-selling Millais bag, this bag marks the first use of Arda’s pioneering leather-like material, New Grain, in an external product.

Described as an “extraordinary next-generation material,” New Grain is a byproduct of the brewing and whiskey distilling industries. By tapping into a globally abundant plant protein source, the tech company “can replace plastics, mimic the structure of collagen (the protein leather is made from), and at the same time work closely with breweries to deliver a truly scalable material across all industries.”

By “skipping the cow” (or snake in this case) and dispensing with animal-derived materials, New Grain “significantly improves resource efficiency while achieving unique qualities that cannot be achieved with animal hides.”

The fabric allows for customization in patterns, thickness, colors, stretch, flexibility, scents and more, we're told.

In addition, the production process generates 97% less CO2 emissions compared to traditional leather and avoids the harmful tanning process, contributing to a cleaner environment and zero microplastics.

The bag is the first item in an upcoming accessories collection that will include more bag styles, as well as wallets and laptop sleeves, and is set to launch later this year.

Brett Cotten, CEO of Arda, said: “The launch of this designer bag with Been is an important milestone for Arda. It demonstrates our ability to innovate and work to bring high-quality materials that are free of animals and plastic to consumers. We are excited to continue our journey with BEEN London, pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion, homeware, sportswear, gaming and more.”