What LifeMaterials does

Life Materials is an Italian e-commerce brand, operated by private limited company Grado Zero Lab S.r.l. and headquartered in Montelupo Fiorentino, that sells more than 14 sustainable biomaterials to designers, artisans, fashion brands, and furniture manufacturers. Its catalog spans four categories: leather alternatives (MuSkin from Phellinus ellipsoideus fungus, Pod Peel from carob pods handcrafted in Portugal, Korteccia from Mutuba fig bark in Uganda), fabrics (Cypress denim with a recycled-cotton blend plus antibacterial cypress finish, Weganool woven and fleece from Calotropis plant fiber blended with regenerated organic cotton), specialty papers (Plantable paper, Hemp paper, Denim paper, MuSkin paper, Banana skin, Alga Carta from Venice Lagoon algae plus FSC pulp), and thermal insulation and padding (BioGreen polymer, Kapok fiber). Unit pricing ranges from €0.95 per Alga Carta sheet to €448 for large Korteccia panels, with a €112.50 full-catalog sample kit. Every listed product is positioned as 100% petroleum-free, oil-free, and cruelty-free.

Each material relies on proprietary cultivation, harvesting, and processing know-how accumulated over more than 15 years, supported by PETA approval, EU Eco Regulation 2092/91, Oeko Tex Standard 100 REACH, FSC, and ILO/SA 8000 certifications. The go-to-market is product-led: customers self-serve through lifematerials.eu with Stripe and PayPal checkout, while larger wholesale B2B inquiries are routed to [email protected] for quote-based bulk pricing of fabrics, padding, and fibers. The addressable market is anchored in the global vegan leather segment, valued at USD 73.38 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 139.02 billion by 2030 at a 9.58% CAGR. Operational scale is constrained: 1–10 employees, no disclosed revenue, no funding history, no named enterprise customers, and no AI/ML capability signals, indicating a content-rich, early-stage commercial operation whose principal challenge is converting deep technical IP into scaled distribution.

Name

LifeMaterials

Legal name

Grado Zero Lab S.r.l.

Website

https://lifematerials.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Life Materials is an Italian e-commerce brand operated by Grado Zero Lab S.r.l. that sells 14+ sustainable biomaterials—including fungal leather, algae paper, and Calotropis-based fabric—to designers, artisans, fashion brands, and furniture manufacturers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Biomaterials

NAICS

Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100)

akta.pro primary industry

Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium) (IMAOAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leather, Suede & Alternatives (PU/Bio-based) (CRAAAMAG), Recycled-Content & Sustainable Tissue/Hygiene Products (IMAMAGAK), Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium) (IMALAMAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable biomaterials
• Vegan leather alternatives
• Plant-based fabrics
• Handmade recycled paper
• Natural fiber insulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Montelupo Fiorentino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and B2B sales through the lifematerials.eu e-commerce platform. Products are sold in various unit formats: per sheet (A5, 56x76cm), per linear meter, per piece/panel, and by weight. Pricing varies by product type and quantity, with VAT added for EU shipments. The company also sells a comprehensive sample kit (112.50 EUR) containing all material types.
2. Wholesale/Bulk Orders: Companies can contact the company directly via email for wholesale pricing and bulk orders of materials like Weganool, Kapok, and BioGreen padding. This channel targets fashion brands, furniture manufacturers, and other businesses integrating sustainable materials into their production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Life Materials sells a curated e-commerce catalog of 100% petroleum-free, cruelty-free sustainable biomaterials to designers, artisans, and companies. The portfolio spans four categories: leather alternatives (MuSkin fungus leather, Pod Peel carob leather, Korteccia bark fleece), fabrics (Weganool from Calotropis, Cypress denim), handmade papers (Alga Carta, Banana skin, Hemp, Denim, MuSkin, Plantable), and thermal insulation/padding (Kapok fiber, BioGreen padding polymer).

Product overview

Life Materials is a B2B e-commerce platform offering a curated portfolio of sustainable, oil-free, and cruelty-free materials for designers, artisans, and companies. The product lineup spans four main categories: leather alternatives (MuSkin fungus-based leather, Pod Peel carob leather, Korteccia bark fleece), fabrics (Cypress denim, Weganool fleece and woven from Calotropis), papers (Plantable paper, Hemp paper, Denim paper, MuSkin paper, Banana skin, Alga carta), and thermal insulation/padding materials (BioGreen padding, Kapok fiber). The company operates exclusively online through lifematerials.eu, selling materials directly to businesses seeking ethical and environmental alternatives to conventional materials. All products share a common focus on 100% non-petroleum-based, animal-free materials that align with circular economy principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MuSkin (vegan leather alternative) 100% vegetable leather alternative made from Phellinus ellipsoideus fungus, featuring a soft suede-like touch, high breathability, natural antibacterial properties, and optional waterproofing with eco waxes. Sold in Small, Medium, Large and extralarge tile sets for fashion, accessories, and interior applications.
• Pod Peel (carob leather alternative) 100% vegetable leather alternative handcrafted in Portugal from 80% carob substrate and 20% cellulose residue with natural rubber. Resistant to tension, stretching and abrasion; elastic and malleable; suitable for bags, shoes, jackets, raincoats and decoration.
• Korteccia (tree bark fleece) Traditional tree bark fleece from Uganda made exclusively from the bark of the East African Mutuba fig tree. Mono-material with no binders, dyes or additives; EU Eco Regulation 2092/91 certified; available in Medium (30x40cm), Large (60x80cm) and XL panels (130x255cm).
• Cypress denim fabric Sustainable denim fabric made from 94% recycled cotton and 6% Japanese cypress fibers with ECOTEC-certified fully traceable production. Tested antibacterial properties reduce bacterial growth 60% against Klebsiella pneumoniae and 85% against Staphylococcus aureus.
• Weganool woven fabric 100% sustainable, zero-waste woven satin fabric from 30% Calotropis plant fibers and 70% regenerated organic cotton. Fabric width 152 cm, weight 95 gsm; production saves 27,000 liters of clean drinking water per kg versus regular cotton yarn.
• Weganool fleece fabric 100% sustainable woven fleece made from 30% Calotropis plant fibers and 70% regenerated organic cotton. Cruelty-free wool alternative with natural anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties; fabric width 44.5cm diameter.
• Plantable paper with live seeds 100% recycled cotton cellulose paper embedded with live field grass or daisy seeds that sprout when disposed in the environment. Produced in Fabriano, Italy using ancient craft systems without chemical additives or bleaching; 55x74cm sheets at 300 gsm.
• Hemp paper Handmade paper from 100% hemp fiber produced according to Fabriano artisan tradition. Sewable, washable (max 30°C), biodegradable and recyclable; 56x76cm sheets at 200 gsm in light-brownish color.
• Denim paper Handmade paper from recycled denim production waste and second-hand goods mixed with cotton cellulose. Produced in Fabriano tradition without chemical additives; light-bluish color, washable, biodegradable and stitchable at 200 gsm, 56x76cm sheets.
• MuSkin paper from mushrooms Up-cycled paper made from MuSkin production scraps in collaboration with Fabriano craftsmen using traditional methods without chemical additives. Fully biodegradable and recyclable; 56x76cm sheets at 180 gsm in light brown.
• Banana skin paper Hand-made paper sheet from eco-friendly banana tree fibers; 180 gsm, 56x76cm, light brown color. Fibers are cruelty-free, bleach-free, tree-free, recyclable, and naturally resistant to water, fire and tear.
• Alga carta paper Paper made from FSC controlled wood pulp combined with pest algae from the Venice lagoon; originally developed in 1993 as part of an EU LIFE project to recycle algae and prevent lagoon deoxygenation. Complies with ISO 9706 and is fully biodegradable and recyclable; B1 foils 70cm x 1m in 90 or 350 gsm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Weganool production saves 27,000 liters of clean drinking water per kg compared to regular 100% cotton yarn
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ananas Anam (Piñatex): Ananas Anam produces Piñatex, a non-woven leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fiber. Comparable as a plant-based, cruelty-free leather substitute serving fashion, footwear, and accessories — overlapping directly with LifeMaterials' leather-alternative category.
• Desserto: Desserto manufactures cactus-based vegan leather for fashion, automotive interiors, and furniture. Both Desserto and LifeMaterials sell cruelty-free leather alternatives to designers and brands, though Desserto focuses on cactus biomass and LifeMaterials on mycelium/plant substrates.
• Bolt Threads: Bolt Threads develops Mylo, a mycelium-based leather alternative, along with b-silk protein-based textiles. Comparable to LifeMaterials in that both are biotech-driven biomaterial suppliers targeting fashion and apparel brands with cruelty-free, bio-fabricated materials.
• MycoWorks: MycoWorks produces Fine Mycelium leather (Reishi) grown from mushroom mycelium, directly competing with LifeMaterials' MuSkin (Phellinus ellipsoideus fungus leather). Both target the luxury and fashion leather-alternative market with proprietary mycelium processing technologies.
• Ecovative Design: Ecovative produces mycelium-based packaging and Forager leather materials from mushroom mycelium. Directly comparable to LifeMaterials' MuSkin mycelium leather alternative — both use fungal mycelium as the core feedstock for sustainable materials.
• Vegea: Vegea produces grape-leather (wine industry byproducts) for fashion, automotive, and furniture applications. Comparable as a bio-based leather alternative manufacturer using agricultural waste — overlapping with LifeMaterials' upcycling of biological waste streams into premium leather substitutes.
• Natural Fiber Welding: Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) produces plant-based, plastic-free leathers and textiles (Mirum, Clarus). Directly comparable to LifeMaterials in that both develop non-petroleum, plant-based materials for fashion and footwear brands (including partnerships with major brands like Timberland and Stella McCartney).
• Beyond Leather Materials (Beyond): Beyond Leather Materials develops apple-leather (AppleSkin) from apple juice industry waste. Directly comparable as a fruit/plant-based vegan leather supplier serving fashion and accessories — same target customer and product category as LifeMaterials' plant-based alternatives.

Broad incumbents

• Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow develops bio-fabricated leather and protein-based materials using biotechnology. Comparable as a broader bio-materials innovator in the alternative leather space, though Modern Meadow operates at a more advanced R&D scale with significant VC backing versus LifeMaterials' smaller-scale operation.

Regional players

• Re&Up (Marchi & Fildi): Re&Up by Marchi & Fildi recycles textile and denim waste into regenerated fibers and yarns. Comparable as an Italian-based sustainable material supplier serving fashion and home textiles, overlapping with LifeMaterials' recycled-paper (denim paper) and recycled-cotton (Cypress denim) product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lifematerialseu
• Facebookfacebook.com/lifematerials
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifematerials.eu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LifeMaterials