New Consumer Research Shows Broad U.S. Demand for Next-Gen Materials

From your car’s interior to the clothes on your back, the materials we interact with every day have a profound impact on the environment. According to Kering, 72% of a brand’s environmental impact comes from their choice of raw materials. Consumers and companies alike are searching for sustainable solutions that are functional, fashionable, and cost-effective, but today’s options are few and far between.

The race is on to bioengineer high-performance and carbon-neutral materials for the mass market as the majority of consumers (84 percent) demand sustainable products and scientists warn of pushing past our planetary boundaries.

A Material Innovation Initiative (MII) study done in collaboration with North Mountain Consulting Group shows that the scales have tipped away from animal leather and toward leather alternatives for many consumers in the U.S. According to the results, while many consumers value the performance and aesthetics of animal leather, the majority say they prefer leather alternatives for reasons that include environmental and other ethical considerations. The study also investigated messaging effectiveness and the willingness of consumers to pay more for alternatives