Organic Leather in New Bentley

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【Summary】Bentley has developed a fully organic leather for car interiors as part of its sustainability plan. The leather is derived from hides that are a by-product of the meat industry and would otherwise go to landfill. The new Olive Tan leather is the first to use a sustainable tanning process that uses an organic by-product of the olive oil industry. It is free of harmful metals and minerals, creating an incredibly soft and durable material.

FutureCar Staff Aug 15, 2023 6:44 AM PT

Bentley is taking steps towards sustainability by developing a fully organic leather for its car interiors. As part of its "Beyond 100" plan, the British automaker is introducing the eco-friendly material in a new Bentley model at Monterey Car Week in California on August 18. However, Bentley couldn't resist giving a sneak peek of the organic leather on the internet before the event.

The leather hides used by Bentley are already highly traceable and a by-product of the meat industry, preventing them from going to landfill. Marc Stang, a technical expert at Bentley, explains that the hides are sourced in the European Union and the company avoids using hides linked to deforestation. These efforts reflect Bentley's commitment to encouraging greener processes within its supply chain.

The new Olive Tan leather, which will be showcased at Monterey Car Week, is the first to undergo a sustainable tanning process. This process utilizes an organic by-product of the olive oil industry, specifically the wastewater extracted during olive pressing. The resulting tanning agent has a higher concentration of renewable chemicals and is free of harmful metals, minerals, and aldehydes. Bentley describes the resulting organic leather as "incredibly soft."

Leather plays a crucial role in Bentley's car interiors, contributing to the brand's signature finish. Stang emphasizes that leather is not only integral to the design but also hardwearing, which is essential considering that 84 percent of all Bentley cars built are still on U.K. roads. The automaker is proud to be the first in the industry to utilize the Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) technology from Italian leather tannery Pasubio SpA. Bentley plans to offer the OMW-derived leather across its entire product range.

Bentley's commitment to sustainability is evident in its Beyond 100 strategy, announced in November 2020. The company 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, and Robb Report will provide a recap of the event. Stay tuned for more updates.