TEXTILE
Eco-Friendly,
Leather-like Textile
Gelatex has invented the first eco-friendly leather-like material that is 100% non-toxic, made of waste and is easily scalable.
It is made from gelatin nanofibers by up-cycling meat industry waste, an abundant and under-valued resource.
It is a unique material, different from any other, but closest to suede or leather.

Gelatex x Stella Soomlais
The relationship with Estonia's most well-known fully circular leather bags and accessories brand Stella Soomlais was established in the early days of Gelatex in 2016. Stella Soomlais designers and crafters have tested the material multiple times in the manufacture of different products and are continuously giving us valuable feedback.
Website: https://www.stellasoomlais.com/
"What really caught my attention about Gelatex was its many positive sides such as sustainability, constant quality and that it comes in rolls."
–Anna Lehmusniemi
Founder & Designer at NO/AN
"What excites me the most about Gelatex is the scalability and even topography of the material, which in other words means smaller leftover percentage"
–Stella Runnel
Founder & Designer at Stella Soomlais
Interested in samples or collaboration?
Benefits of Gelatex Leather-like Textile

Upcycled
Redesigned from
livestock waste
Breathable
Structure of the mesh creates porous material
Sustainable
No toxic chemicals, little energy and water used in production
Lightweight
Thickness and weight can be customized
Comes in Rolls
Reduces material waste and saves your time
Stable Quality
No scratches, no thickness variations


Cost Competitive
Zero Waste
Quick automated production keeps the cost down
There is no wastewater or solid waste from Gelatex production

The Process: From Waste To Textile
Re-Direct
01
Our core component is gelatin— a versatile yet undervalued byproduct of the livestock industry.
Gelatin Production
The livestock industry uses only 60% of slaughtered animals for meat. The other 40% is often discarded.
Re-Directed
Discarded waste includes bones, skin scraps and tendons that can be used to make gelatin – a natural versatile protein. Over 5 million tons of this material is currently incinerated in the EU only.








Gelatex Platform
At Gelatex, we use the gelatin that is upcycled from this waste as a core component of our natural, safe, and sustainable materials.



Spin
02
Gelatin is mixed into a solution. We then use a proprietary method of spinning gelatin into insoluble nanofibrous mesh.
We mix a solution from gelatin
Then spin
nano-fibers
To build non-woven mesh






Formulate
Once the mesh is created, the structure becomes a perfect base that can be processed further to suit diverse applications and industries.
The mesh is finished with sustainable ingredients
03

And laminated with cotton for durability



Creating a Sustainable Leather-like Textile
Photo gallery

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Building automated production line
We are currently building a fully automated pilot production line that would enable to produce Gelatex material in continuous line with stable quality.
FAQ
Can you send the technical data sheet?
What kinds of colours do you have? Can you colour the material?
The natural color of the material is beige or light camel. But the coolest part with coloring the material is that we can add the coloring pigments inside the solution before we make the fibers. This means that there is no wastewater from dyeing process, the material is coloured in the same way thoroughly and the color does not fade off that easily. We have now light camel, grass green, salmon pink, dusty grey, and night black as color options.
How is Gelatex made?
Gelatex is made of gelatin - a natural protein derived from the waste created in the meat or leather industries. Our proprietary process includes preparing a solution from gelatin, making the nano-fibrous non-woven mesh, laminating it with cotton and finishing with sustainable ingredients to offer durability and final touch. Please see the process description earlier on this page.
What is the composition of Gelatex textile?
Final composition varies depending on thicknesses and treatments that we are working on but approximate one is 80% gelatin, 10% cotton, 3% glucose, 7% other additives. The main component gelatin is a natural protein upcycled from the meat industry waste. Currently we use pig origin gelatin, but it is possible to use also fish origin gelatin or even gelatin that is produced in the lab without animals.
How can I buy Gelatex?
We are working now on pilot production line and durability improvements to get material quality and production capacity stable. The material is currently available for selected brands interested in co-development. Please get in touch for more information.
What makes Gelatex material sustainable?
Gelatex is made from gelatin - a natural protein derived from the waste of meat processing industry that otherwise would be incinerated. Just in Estonia - a country of only 1.3 million people where we are coming from - over 2 million square meters of Gelatex material could be made each year if upcycling the waste that currently gets incinerated. You can just imagine what is the impact in the whole world.
Can I get samples?
As we have limited production capacity now, we do not send out free samples at the moment. We would like to get to know you and your plans better and then we can discuss the options. Please get in touch by sending us e-mail to info@gelatex.com or fill in the form below.
Is Gelatex waterproof?
Gelatex is water resistant, but not waterproof.
I have a project idea. Can we collaborate?
We are always interested in testing our material on new products or collaborating with you on projects that share same values with us. Please get in touch!