Biomaterials: sustainable innovation from fashion to construction and medicine

Biomaterials are materials of biological origin or produced through advanced biotechnologies, designed to replace conventional materials while reducing environmental impact. In Italy, they are applied across sectors such as fashion, construction, automotive and medicine.

Biomaterials: Global Market Data and Impact

From fashion to construction, sustainable design Made in Italy and medicine, the green revolution increasingly runs through materials. According to a study by Boston Consulting Group and Fashion for Good, materials account for around 30% of the cost of goods sold in the fashion sector, yet generate over 90% of total emissions linked to extraction, processing and production. Next-generation materials, produced using advanced biotechnologies or bio-based inputs, promise high performance while reducing environmental impact and, by 2030, could cover 8% of the global fibre market—around 13 million tonnes—up from today’s 1%.

Italy, too, is experimenting with biomaterials to drive greater innovation across the sectors and products that represent the country worldwide.

Biomaterials in Fashion: Italy’s ScobySkin Case Study

In Italy, research into biomaterials is yielding concrete and creative applications. The Campania-based laboratory Biologic has developed ScobySkin, a biofabricated material grown by bacterial micro-organisms from local fruit waste such as apples, kiwis, oranges and grapes. The resulting three-dimensional biofilm is adaptable, suitable and sustainable for fashion, design and biomedical uses. In Italy it has already been used for the costumes and jewellery of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, showing how research and tradition can converge to create innovative, high-quality products.

Lab-Grown Leather and Green Materials: Italy’s Industrial Applications

In the leather sector, Italy is also at the forefront in adopting advanced technologies. Producing lab-grown leather makes it possible to obtain high-quality green materials with minimal environmental impact: up to an 87% reduction in carbon emissions, elimination of methane emissions, and a significant decrease in water and land use. These technologies are being trialled across multiple fields—from fashion and footwear to furniture and the automotive industry—confirming Italy’s role as a laboratory of sustainable innovation.

Applications of Biomaterials in Italy: Construction and Medicine

Innovation extends to other strategic sectors in Italy as well. In construction, new bio-based techniques make it possible to produce cement inspired by the biomineralisation of corals, with processes that reduce environmental impact and absorb CO₂ through the use of marine microalgae. In healthcare, Italian laboratories employ 3D bioprinting and smart polymer biomaterials to develop applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and targeted drug delivery, offering tailored and sustainable solutions.

Opportunities and outlook for Italy  

The large-scale application of biomaterials in Italy could reduce the cost of goods sold by up to 4% over the next five years, making supply chains more resilient and competitive. But the real advantage lies in the country’s ability to turn research and innovation into concrete applications, enhancing know-how, design and sustainability. Thanks to tangible local projects—from apparel to construction—Italy is positioning itself as an advanced laboratory for bio-based materials, strengthening its leadership in the global green revolution.


For businesses seeking to seize these opportunities and expand their international network, OpportunItaly offers dedicated tools and services for internationalisation. Find out more:

Summary:

• Biomaterials are materials of biological origin or produced through advanced biotechnologies

• By 2030 they could cover 8% of the global fibre market (around 13 million tonnes), up from today's 1% (Boston Consulting Group / Fashion for Good)

• In Italy, the laboratory Biologic has developed ScobySkin: a biofabricated material grown from fruit waste

• Lab-grown leather reduces carbon emissions by up to 87% compared with conventional tanning processes

• Adopting biomaterials could cut cost of goods sold by up to 4% over the next five years, making Italian supply chains more competitive