1
A new type of bacterial leather that can be dyed black on its own
In addition to synthetic leather, there is now a new alternative to animal leather: bacterial leather, which researchers at Imperial College London have genetically modified to dye themselves.
With the rise of environmental awareness, leather can be considered vegan as long as it is not derived from any animal products. Usually in the tanning process of genuine leather, a large number of chemicals will be used, and after layer after layer of chemical and mechanical treatment processes, the leather will be softer and tougher, and some reagents will inevitably cause harm to the human body and the environment.
In view of these shortcomings, various groups have begun to use lab-grown cells, mushrooms, silks, and bacteria to make leather, especially the leather-like "Bacterial Cellulose" (BC) induced by special bacteria. Recently, scientists at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom conducted research on genetically modified strains of Komagataeibacter rhaeticus to create natural black bacterial leather.
This strain of bacterial cellulose, which produces melanin. In the study, the team worked with material designer Jen Keane to grow bacterial cellulose tops by custom-made containers, in which the cellulose "grows" the shape of a shoe after 14 days of growth, and then gently shakes it at 30°C for two days to trigger bacteria to produce melanin, which can dye the shoe on its own and retain its color after 42 months of wear.
The R&D team has also created a black bacterial leather purse, but even if black is versatile, just one color is not enough, they are now researching how to make bacteria produce other colors, and have now designed different bacterial strains, when exposed to blue light, will produce colored pigments, and then simply project the blue light pattern onto the material, and then the logo or other designs can be dyed onto the bacterial cellulose sheet.
According to the researchers, bacterial leather has solved many problems in genuine leather and plastic synthetic leather, and now plans to expand with new colors, materials and patterns, and also looks forward to working with the fashion industry to make the entire fashion supply chain more environmentally friendly.
2
JBS Couros presents a "new" leather collection
JBS Couros, the leather processing division of meat processing company JBS, has launched a range of "new" leather collections. Three of the collections are for upholstery leather and one for footwear.
The first line in the "new" leather range, Essntial, is reported to be environmentally friendly, using 70% less water and 40% less chemicals in the retanning process. The collection also includes scents, with JBS Couros' R&D team researching 26 different fragrances to create two scents, floral and woody.
EVO is a line of ultra-abrasion-resistant materials that resist stains caused by a variety of products or foods that can deteriorate the material over time, leading to cracking, loss of gloss, and reduced durability. EVO leathers are available in aniline, semi-aniline and pigment colours and have been tested according to the AATCC130:1995 standard. EVO includes the following products: TITANO, which is 10-12mm thick, soft and plump, and has a natural appearance, URANO, which is 12-14mm thick, with a semi-matte gloss and pure color, ATLANTE, which has a fine and uniform texture and is pleasant to the touch, and CHRONO, which is a nappa leather with a uniform texture, silky to the touch, and a smooth texture, with a thickness of 10-12mm.
The Volare collection includes leathers with a classic design, but with different types of finishes that will surprise when applied to furniture. PRODUCTS INCLUDE NAPPA+1, MARTIN, DURANTE AND BENNETT.
At the same time, JBS launched Cambré for the footwear industry. The company says that the leather is not only absolutely flexible, but also has excellent durability.
3
Avian influenza has been detected in cattle herds in the United States
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that avian influenza was detected in milk samples from Texas and Kansas, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) subsequently reported a case of avian influenza in a person who had been in contact with a potentially infected cow.
The USDA claims that the current milk supply is still safe because the infected milk is being destroyed. The USDA further stated that there is no need to cull the herd now because the infected cows are being quarantined and are recovering.
Meanwhile, Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Association, said, "According to food safety experts from the CDC and USDA, beef is safe to eat when properly processed. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is not transmitted to humans through the consumption of meat or poultry products. The Meat Association and its member companies will continue to be vigilant to help stop the spread of the disease among animals. We will support dairy and livestock producers across the country in their efforts to protect their herds. We call on government officials to anticipate international trade issues and encourage our trading partners to adhere to internationally recognized scientific standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). ”