Hyundai Cradle, Hyundai Motor Group’s global open innovation hub, has partnered with Uncaged Innovations to use grain byproducts to develop sustainable, animal-free leather alternatives for vehicle interiors.
The companies have developed a material that reduces resource consumption on multiple fronts, producing 95% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and using 89% less water and 71% less energy than animal-based leather – reportedly without compromising on texture, durability or luxurious quality.
“Uncaged’s grain-based protein leather alternative stood out to us for its unique molecular design and manufacturing process, which allows us to drastically lower environmental impact while meeting the demanding quality and performance standards of automotive interiors,” said Brendon Kim, senior vice president and head of Hyundai Cradle. “Uncaged’s approach, which minimizes chemical inputs and leverages natural resources like coffee bean shells for dyes, aligns perfectly with Hyundai Motor Group’s sustainability material strategy of prioritizing high bio content and minimal chemical use.”
Uncaged Innovations combines its technology platform, BioFuze, with biomaterial manufacturing to create a sustainable, customizable leather alternative that mimics the texture and performance of traditional leather. Rather than relying on carbohydrate-based designs, which lack the molecular structure to behave like skin, Uncaged used its Elevate product, which uses grain proteins fused with other plant-based elements to replicate the scaffolding functions of collagen, the primary protein in animal hides.
“Hyundai Motor Group’s commitment to sustainable and animal-free materials makes them the ideal partner for us to advance what’s possible in automotive manufacturing,” added Stephanie Downs, CEO and co-founder of Uncaged Innovations. “Automotive interiors require the highest-possible durability and quality. Developing a scalable, sustainable alternative for vehicle interiors underpins the strength of the technology behind our entire platform, helping us create luxurious and durable materials for a wide range of applications and industries.”
In related news, the forthcoming 2026 BMW iX3 50 xDrive has been developed with a focus on reducing the product’s environmental footprint, which, the auto maker says, demonstrates the group’s “take on implementing a holistic approach to product sustainability across the entire lifecycle”
