Modern Meadow
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology, Sustainable materials |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Andras Forgacs, Gabor Forgacs, Karoly Jakab, Francoise Marga |
| Headquarters | Nutley , United States |
Key people | David Williamson (CEO, 2024), Catherine Roggero-Lovisi (CEO, 2022-2024) |
| Products | Biofabricated leather, Bio-Alloy, Bio-Tex, Bio-VERA |
| Website | modernmeadow |
Modern Meadow is a biotechnology firm based in the United States that focuses on creating sustainable materials through biofabrication. The company was founded in 2011 by Andras Forgacs, Gabor Forgacs, Karoly Jakab, and Francoise Marga, with its main office located in Nutley, New Jersey.
History
The inception of Modern Meadow aimed to develop leather and meat products using tissue culture techniques, eliminating the need for animal slaughter. In 2018, the company collaborated with Evonik to enhance and expand the commercial manufacturing of its biofabricated materials.
By 2021, Modern Meadow entered into a joint venture with the Italian textile manufacturer Limonta to introduce BioFabric, a line dedicated to eco-friendly biofabricated materials.
In 2017, the company revealed intentions to produce what it described as the “world’s first biofabricated leather,” later presenting a prototype T-shirt made from this material at the Museum of Modern Art’s “Items: Is Fashion Modern” exhibition, which ran through 2018. Leadership transitions include Catherine Roggero-Lovisi stepping into the CEO role in 2022, followed by David Williamson assuming the position in 2024.
In recognition of its innovation, Modern Meadow received the EPA Green Chemistry award in 2023 for pioneering a dyeing process that utilizes plant-derived proteins and biopolymers.
Technology
Modern Meadow develops textiles by combining plant-based protein biopolymers with bio-based polyurethane. This combination forms a polymer blend known as Bio-Alloy, which underpins their plant-derived leather substitutes.
Bio-Alloy is utilized to create various products such as Bio-Tex, developed specifically for the American fashion label Tory Burch, and Bio-VERA, a composite biomaterial mixed with synthetic polymers intended for use in transportation, wall coverings, and interior design sectors.