Bio-materials are not like conventional materials — each has its own qualities, characteristics and behaviour in production. Substanz combines the capabilities of a sourcing platform with expert consulting, enabling brands to make informed decisions when selecting materials.

We don’t simply list suppliers — we understand how each material performs in real-world production, helping brands avoid the technical and sourcing challenges that often emerge later in self-sourced projects. This approach also helps material producers avoid improper applications and negative experiences with their materials by ensuring that each material is matched with suitable products and production processes.

The aim of the Substanz platform is to make new bio-materials easier to understand and more accessible to brands, while eliminating unnecessary price mark-ups compared with conventional material sourcing.

Our pricing model is designed to give brands direct access to producer-level material pricing, without additional intermediary mark-ups. The platform itself is financed by material producers through membership fees and by the cash flow generated from Substanz’s consulting services. This allows us to separate the cost of our expertise and platform from the price of the materials themselves, creating greater transparency for both brands and material producers.

Our ultimate goal is to grow the European bio-materials market and expand their applications, while facilitating the development and adoption of circular economy solutions. By connecting innovative material producers with brands, designers and manufacturers, Substanz helps accelerate the transition from material innovation to real-world applications and market adoption.

Substanz promotes the bio-economy and circular economy in Europe by facilitating access to locally and globally produced bio-materials and supporting brands in material decision-making.

For EU-produced materials, all materials are ordered through Substanz and shipped directly to you from EU producers, making the sourcing process simple and efficient while eliminating unnecessary intermediaries.

Samples, colour cards and prototyping quantities from non-EU suppliers are kept in Substanz’s European stock and are available for direct purchase. Commercial quantities are ordered through Substanz and shipped directly from the producer.

Browse our source materials to see what's currently available, or book a consultation if you'd rather talk through your project first.

Most brands start with a short call so we can point them to the right materials from day one — no generic catalog browsing required.

Both. We've worked with independent brands, material R&D companies developing exhibition pieces, independent designers sourcing fabrics for a single collection, and established brands building full circular economy supply chains.

Our consulting services are divided into General Consultations and Consulting Projects.

General Consultations can be booked on an hourly basis and are typically focused on a specific topic or question based on the brand’s needs. These sessions are conversational and designed to provide expert guidance and practical insights. No referrals or follow-up deliverables are included.

Consulting Projects are goal-oriented engagements focused on a specific outcome, such as identifying a suitable material or finding the right manufacturing partner. Projects are quoted at a flat rate based on an agreed scope of deliverables from Substanz. The available types of consulting projects and their respective scopes can be found on our Consultancy page.

Before listing any material, Substanz reviews and verifies the claims provided by the producer and collects supporting documentation and certification evidence. This means brands do not need to repeat the same due diligence themselves and can rely on verified information when evaluating materials and developing their own communications.

Certification packages and supporting documentation are available upon request or provided with the material order.