Bentley's Revolutionary Organic Leather Unveiled in Latest Vehicle

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【Summary】Bentley has developed fully organic leather for its car interiors as part of its sustainability plan. The leather is made from highly traceable hides that are a by-product of the meat industry. The new Olive Tan leather is tanned using an organic by-product from the olive oil industry, resulting in a soft and eco-friendly material. Bentley plans to offer this leather across its entire product range. This development is in line with Bentley's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

FutureCar Staff Aug 15, 2023 9:32 AM PT

Bentley's Revolutionary Organic Leather Unveiled in Latest Vehicle

Bentley is making a green upgrade to its iconic quilted interiors. As part of its sustainability plan called "Beyond 100," the British automaker has developed a fully organic leather for its cabins. The eco-friendly material, which is a by-product of the meat industry, will be unveiled in a new Bentley model at Monterey Car Week in California on August 18.

Bentley already uses highly traceable leather hides that would otherwise go to landfill. The hides, sourced from the European Union, are a by-product of the meat industry and are not linked to deforestation. This reflects Bentley's efforts to encourage greener processes within its supply chain.

The new Olive Tan leather is the first to undergo a sustainable tanning process that utilizes an organic by-product of the olive oil industry. The tanning agent is derived from wastewater extracted during olive pressing. This process results in a higher concentration of renewable chemicals and eliminates harmful metals, minerals, and aldehydes, creating an incredibly soft organic leather.

According to Marc Stang, a technical expert at Bentley, leather is an integral component of the car interiors and plays a significant role in creating Bentley's signature finish. Additionally, the leather is hardwearing, which is crucial considering that 84 percent of all Bentley cars built are still on the roads in the UK.

Bentley is the first automaker to utilize the Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) technology developed by Italian leather tannery Pasubio SpA. The company plans to offer the OMW-derived leather across its entire product range.

Since announcing its Beyond 100 strategy, Bentley has made significant sustainability progress. The automaker is investing $3.4 billion over the next decade to electrify its lineup and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The introduction of the organic leather demonstrates that Bentley can pursue its green goals without compromising on style.

Monterey Car Week will conclude this Sunday, so stay tuned for Robb Report's recap of the event.