University of Delaware professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Richard Wool has developed a leather alternative made from flax, cotton fibers, and soybean, corn and palm oil which feels and acts like animal leather and is breathable unlike “pleather”. The new material which Professor Wool plans to call Green Engineered Material (GEM) has gained significant notice from the fashion industry and the professor has begun collaborating with Nike and Puma on product development. Professor Wool is urging the University of Delaware to fund a Center for Green Materials for the development of GEM and other materials on a pilot scale toward what Professor Wool calls a ‘trillion dollar opportunity’. Professor Wool has also previously developed John Deere tractor parts, circuit boards, and hurricane-resistant roofs from soybean oil, chicken feathers and flax. His research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Science Foundation (NSF), among others. It will be interesting to see how Professor Wool’s discoveries could affect the demand, use, and price of agricultural commodities in the future.
To receive relevant news stories with summaries provided by GAI Research & Insight, subscribe to Global AgDevelopments, our free bi-weekly enhanced eNews service