Mercedes Ready to Abandon Leather

Mercedes is working on a highly realistic alternative to leather made from recycled plastic and biotech-derived materials.

If you know what it feels like to step into the cabin of a S-Class, this decision by Mercedes might disappoint you. Even more so if you have ever traveled in a Mercedes from the 1980s-1990s and the unmistakable scent of that noble material has stayed in your memory; you have the right to consider this a crime against refinement and good taste.

But the era of leather is coming to an end; we must accept this idea. Instead of succumbing to the ease of “vegan leather,” which is nothing more than faux leather or pleather, Mercedes has decided to develop its own material capable of reproducing the characteristics of real leather. This innovative product combines recycled plastic and biobased materials. Using a chemical recycling process, pyrolysis oil is produced from used tires, while certified biogas is extracted from agricultural waste. These components are transformed into plastic fibers, which form the basis for manufacturing microfibers. To this semi-finished material, biosourced proteins and polymers are added, resulting in a revolutionary composition.

This new material not only replicates the structure of genuine leather but can also be processed similarly through retanning techniques. It offers a luxurious appearance and feel, with natural aging properties. Light, waterproof, and breathable, it has a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional leather. Additionally, this material, derived from recycled polymers, is fully recyclable.

The star brand is no stranger to chemical innovation. It has already developed an innovative silk-like yarn using biotechnology. This material is produced by genetically modified bacteria capable of synthesizing silk proteins. These are transformed into a shiny, silky thread via a wet spinning process, already used in cellulose manufacturing. This synthetic spider silk shares the same functional properties as traditional silk: 100% biodegradable, lightweight, and remarkably resistant. Mercedes-Benz has incorporated it into its VISION EQXX and Concept CLA concepts, notably in the form of door handles and pockets.

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