Gen Phoenix, founded by Chris Bevan in 2007 (formerly known as Eleather), is changing the leather industry by recycling and repurposing high-quality leather scraps that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

The leather industry is notorious for irresponsible skin sourcing, which leads to the loss of water and resources in leather tannery processes and likely contributes to animal cruelty. In a world where up to 70% of leather goes unused and is discarded, there has to be a better way to utilize this durable and premium material.

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Gen Phoenix is therefore rescuing leather scraps from landfills and repurposing them in a variety of products, including airplane seats and footwear. The company has also partnered with leading brands like Land Rover, Air Baltic, Dr. Martens, Kate Spade, and Coach to help reduce waste in the leather industry and promote more sustainable practices.

A Message from CEO John Kennedy

Circular Material Solutions

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Gen Phoenix is redefining materials and sustainability for industries across the board some of these solutions include:

Eleather:

Gen Phoenix' Eleather is a high-performance, leather-fiber-based circular material that retains the traditional qualities of leather while minimizing environmental impact. The company’s business model is B2B, it provides brands with high-quality leather without a significant carbon footprint.

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Gen Phoenix has collaborated with the aviation and public transport industries, supplying leather for seats. The material is highly customizable, offering a range of finishes, textures, colors, and grains, making the possibilities for these industries endless.

Some key benefits include low maintenance, low cost of ownership, and a long lifespan, making it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional leather.

Aurora

Aurora leather is made from upcycled leather and is designed for modern luxury. The Aurora material from Gen Phoenix is ideal for fashion and footwear brands like Dr. Martens. The brand’s circular model helps footwear companies achieve their sustainability goals while maintaining the overall quality and appearance. Aurora leather is durable and long-lasting, helping to close the loop on throwaway fashion and industry waste of their products.

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Gen Phoenix goes the extra mile by obtaining third-party certifications, such as the Recycled Blended Claim Standard and the Global Recycle Standard.

Gen Phoenix leather materials are also compatible with secondary processing, including printing, laser etching, and perforation, delivering on their promise of a high-quality material that brands can use to further their sustainability efforts.

Helios

Helios material by Gen Phoenix is a circular material solution that helps close the loop on material waste. It is created from leather scraps, end-of-life post-consumer, and post-industrial waste and can be used in a variety of applications.

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The Helios material has been engineered to bring sustainable modern luxury to environmentally friendly products that can be used in diverse industries.

Gen Phoenix x Coach: Coachtopia

In April 2023, Coach introduced Coachtopia, a circular sub-brand focused on sustainable craftsmanship and innovative design solutions to support its sustainability journey. Coachtopia was created to rethink waste by using recycled, repurposed, and responsibly sourced materials, setting a new standard for eco-conscious fashion.

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As part of its broader commitment to sustainability, Tapestry—the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman—has partnered with Gen Phoenix to develop high-quality leather products with a reduced environmental impact. This collaboration aligns with Tapestry’s goals of sustainable leather sourcing and incorporating materials that are manufactured with 77% recycled leather.

With an $18 million investment in Gen Phoenix, Tapestry is taking significant steps toward a more circular future.

A New Future for Leather

Leather is a material with deep historical roots, used for thousands of years in traditional garments, armor, footwear, and accessories. Its natural durability, flexibility, and ability to age beautifully have made it a staple across cultures and industries.

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Innovations like Gen Phoenix’s embrace recycled leather solutions and show that it is possible to keep leather in the loop without sacrificing performance or traditional craftsmanship.