Ep.33 TJ Mitchell, ARDA Biomaterials

Ep.33 TJ Mitchell, ARDA Biomaterials

From Sustaianble Times - Profit Meets Purpose by Sustainable Times

October 22, 2025 · 39 min

About this episode

TJ Mitchell discusses how ARDA Biomaterials is creating a plastic-free leather alternative from beer waste.

“Imagine a Guinness X Gucci leather jacket!” This week on Profit Meets Purpose, TJ Mitchell, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of ARDA Biomaterials, explains how they are turning beer waste into a scalable, plastic-free leather alternative. After completing a PhD in supramolecular chemistry at Oxford, Mitchell joined the startup accelerator Entrepreneur First, where he met his co-founder Brett Cotten. Leveraging Mitchell’s chemistry expertise, ARDA transforms proteins from waste grain from breweries into a material as strong and flexible as leather that is bio-based and plastic-free. From making two-litre samples in Mitchell’s kitchen to partnering with Beavertown Brewery on a limited run of cardholders, ARDA has scaled fast. The company raised £1.1m in seed funding led by Clean Growth Fund and secured an £800k Innovate UK grant, followed by a £4m round led by Oyster Bay, early investors in Oatly. Now part of AB InBev’s 100+ Accelerator, ARDA is running a paid pilot using waste grain from major global beer brands. The company envisions decentralised facilities co-located with breweries, turning local waste into local materials. Arda’s goal is to reach price parity with…

People in this episode

Guest: TJ Mitchell

Topics covered

  • biomaterials
  • sustainability
  • innovation
  • entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • beer waste
  • plastic-free
  • leather alternative
  • sustainable materials

Mentioned in this episode

Products: ARDA Biomaterials, Beavertown Brewery

Books & works: Profit Meets Purpose, PhD

Places: UK

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