One of the breakthroughs that encouraged Keane to found Modern Synthesis with Ben Reeve, the company’s chief technology officer, was the ability to create materials only using nanocellulose. Other biomaterials can mimic leather, for example, but some synthetic materials might need to be added to the mix to pull it off successfully, she said.
Modern Synthesis buys its nanocellulose from existing producers, which already make the stuff in large quantities for a range of applications, from food additives to medical implants. The startup then processes the nanocellulose to create different materials. In 2023, for example, it made an artificial leather for Danish fashion brand Ganni, which used it to make a handbag that contained no petrochemicals.