Organic Leather Makes Debut in Bentley's Latest Car

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【Summary】Bentley has developed a fully organic leather for its car interiors as part of its sustainability plan. The new Olive Tan leather is made using a sustainable tanning process that uses an organic by-product of the olive oil industry. The leather is incredibly soft and free of harmful metals and minerals. Bentley plans to offer this organic leather across its entire product range. The automaker is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and has already made significant sustainability strides.

FutureCar Staff Aug 16, 2023 9:40 AM PT

Organic Leather Makes Debut in Bentley's Latest Car

Bentley is taking steps towards sustainability by introducing a fully organic leather for its car interiors. As part of its "Beyond 100" plan, the British automaker aims to become more environmentally friendly. The new eco-friendly material will be showcased in a Bentley model at Monterey Car Week in California on August 18. However, Bentley has already given a sneak peek of the organic leather on the internet.

Bentley already uses leather hides that are highly traceable and sourced from the European Union. These hides are a by-product of the meat industry and would otherwise go to waste. The company also ensures that the hides used are not linked to deforestation, reflecting its commitment to promoting greener processes within its supply chain.

The new Olive Tan leather is the first to undergo a sustainable tanning process using 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. The end result is an incredibly soft organic leather, according to Bentley.

Leather plays a vital role in Bentley's car interiors and contributes to the brand's signature finish. The company emphasizes that the leather used is hardwearing, which is especially important considering that 84 percent of Bentley cars built are still on U.K. roads. Bentley is proud to be the first in the industry to adopt the Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) technology from Italian leather tannery Pasubio SpA. The automaker plans to incorporate the OMW-derived leather across its entire product range.

Bentley has been making significant sustainability efforts since announcing its Beyond 100 strategy in November 2020. The company has committed $3.4 billion to electrify its lineup and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. This latest innovation 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.