Organic Leather Makes Its 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 leather, which will debut in a new Bentley model, is made from hides that are a by-product of the meat industry and sourced from the European Union. The tanning process uses an organic by-product of the olive oil industry, resulting in a leather that is soft and free of harmful chemicals. Bentley plans to offer this sustainable leather across its entire product range.

FutureCar Staff Aug 20, 2023 6:57 AM PT

Organic Leather Makes Its Debut in Bentley's Latest Car

Bentley is introducing a green upgrade to its iconic quilted interiors. As part of its sustainability plan, the luxury car manufacturer has developed a fully organic leather for its cabins. The eco-friendly material will be unveiled in a new Bentley model at Monterey Car Week in California on August 18. However, the company has already provided a sneak peek of the leather on the internet.

Bentley already uses highly traceable leather hides that are sourced from the European Union and are a by-product of the meat industry. This sustainable approach helps prevent the hides from ending up in landfills. Additionally, Bentley ensures that the hides used are not linked to deforestation, reflecting their commitment to greener processes within their 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 unique process results in a higher concentration of renewable chemicals and eliminates harmful metals, minerals, and aldehydes. The end result is an incredibly soft and organic leather.

According to Marc Stang, the technical expert leather at Bentley, leather is a crucial component of their car interiors and plays a significant role in creating the brand's signature finish. Stang also highlights the durability of the leather, emphasizing that 84 percent of all Bentley cars built are still on UK roads.

Bentley is proud to be the first in the industry to utilize the Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) technology from Italian leather tannery Pasubio SpA. The company plans to offer the OMW-derived leather across its entire product range. This commitment to sustainability aligns with Bentley's Beyond 100 strategy, which aims to make the brand carbon neutral by 2030 through a $3.4 billion investment in electrification.

The introduction of the organic leather demonstrates that Bentley can achieve its green goals without compromising on style. As Monterey Car Week comes to a close, car enthusiasts can look forward to Bentley's continued innovation in sustainability.