What is Precision Fermentation?
Here's why this futuristic tech is poised to change everything
Here’s a funny thing about the “green” future we’re working towards: it often looks a lot like the past. So many of today’s most cutting-edge sustainability solutions are really just ancient and natural processes, refined using modern tools. Indigenous communities have known for centuries how to work with nature, not against it. Today, computing power allows us to follow that example by mimicking, scaling, and replicating biological processes with astonishing precision. One of the most exciting examples? Precision fermentation.
Few things feel more futuristic, more boundary-breaking, more full of possibility than what is currently brewing in labs and fermentation tanks across the globe right now.
If you’ve never heard of precision fermentation before, don’t worry—you’re not alone. I was only introduced to the idea after being seated next to Jasmina Aganovic, the badass CEO behind biotech beauty brand Arcaea (which I recently wrote about for Azure Road), at a dinner with friends. But odds are, your vanity, fridge, and pantry will soon be filled with products made using this very cool tech.
So what exactly is precision fermentation?
In short, it’s a process that uses microbes—like yeast, fungi, or bacteria—as tiny bio-factories. Scientists give these microorganisms genetic instructions to produce a specific compound (like a milk protein, an egg white, or even collagen), and then let them do their thing in a fermentation tank. It’s like teaching yeast a new recipe—except instead of bread, you’re making animal-free dairy or a silk protein that doesn’t require torturing silkworms.
Of course, scientists have been using fermentation for decades if not centuries to make things like kombucha, beer, cheese or even insulin. What’s new is that we’re now harnessing this technology for consumer goods—in food, fashion, and beauty—and in doing so, radically reshaping what’s possible, including how small we can shrink the environmental impact of these industries.
The technology allows us to recreate high-impact ingredients—like cheese, eggs, collagen, silk, and even leather—without animals, deforestation, antibiotics, or massive water and land use.
Why it matters:
The environmental benefits of precision fermentation are enormous. The technology allows us to recreate high-impact ingredients—like cheese, eggs, collagen, silk, and even leather—without animals, deforestation, antibiotics, or massive water and land use. It’s a way to bypass some of the most extractive and polluting parts of our current systems while still delivering on performance, nutrition, and sensory experience.
Think of it as a hack to luxury. You still get your brie, your silky serums, your buttery-soft fabrics—but without the baggage. Yes, the dream is becoming real folks.
Companies like Perfect Day (animal-free dairy), The Every Co. (egg whites), Geltor (beauty products), Modern Meadow (bioleather), and New Culture (precision mozzarella for GUILT FREE ‘ZA!) are all pioneering in this space, and corporations like Nestlé, L’Oréal, and Stella McCartney are already investing big time.
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and lab-grown roses.
As with any new technology, there is reason to be cautious, mostly because none of these industries have worked out labeling requirements and safety regulations yet—will consumers know their cheese or moisturizer was brewed, not grown? Others raise valid concerns about what this shift means for smallholder farmers—what will happen to the rose cultivators in Morocco who have long supplied for some of the world’s top beauty brands? There are also philosophical questions: Is this still natural? What happens when we replace plants and animals with code?
Personally, I think the bigger question is: Can we afford not to explore this?
If we want to preserve the biodiversity, beauty, and wildness that define a truly luxurious life, we need to get creative. Sometimes, that means going back to the land. Other times, it means going into the lab.
Whether you’re sipping on a latte with animal-free milk or smoothing a biotech serum on your skin, precision fermentation might soon become part of your eco-luxury lifestyle. And maybe, just maybe, that’s a good thing.
What do you think?
The Eco-Luxury Edit: Earth Week!
Noggins & Binkles - First off, can we talk about how much I love the name? Named after two rescue cats, Noggins & Binkles is a UK-based brand crafting luxurious, ethically made pet (and human) accessories. Until we reach the aforementioned dream of mass-produced, precision-fermented leather, they’re using Piñatex—a sustainable vegan leather alternative made from pineapple leaves—alongside other eco-conscious materials like organic cotton and cork—to make stylish, durable and cruelty-free collars and more. Everything is handmade in their countryside studio with exquisite attention to detail.
Photo by Mitchell Orr on Unsplash
Petaluma - As much as I’ve reduced my own meat consumption, I also have four dogs—and they eat a lot of meat. This had me looking for more eco-conscious alternatives to their staple canned food. Enter: Petaluma, a science-backed, plant-based dog food brand born out of one couple’s realization that feeding their pup could align with their ethical and environmental values. Created with veterinary nutritionists, Petaluma’s formulas are full-spectrum, clean, and nourishing—with a dramatically smaller carbon and water footprint than meat-based options. It’s dog food that’s good for your pet and the planet. Bonus: their founding story (involving a dog, a rooster, and some farm animals) is as charming as it is thought-provoking.
Nette Candles - Lately, I’ve been hunting for the perfect candle holders for our new home—and that’s got me thinking about what to put inside them. With a baby at home, indoor air quality matters more than ever, which is why I love Nette. These luxe candles are crafted using renewable energy, green chemistry, 100% traceable ingredients, and come in stunning, reusable glass vessels. They’re vegan, cruelty-free, and many ingredients are certified organic—sourced from perfumery legends like Laboratoire Monique Remy. Nette’s scents are layered and transportive (Suede Fringe is a personal favorite), and their ethos makes each flicker feel as good as it smells.
Photo by No Revisions on Unsplash
Etta Loves - As a new mom, I’m always on the lookout for eco-luxe baby brands and recently came across B-Corp certified Etta Loves out of NYC. Founded by a mother inspired by her daughter’s gaze, the brand transforms everyday baby items like muslins and playmats into science-backed sensory essentials that support visual development. Designed in collaboration with infant vision experts and made with planet-kind fabrics, every pattern and color is optimized to help babies focus, calm, and grow. It’s not just adorable—it’s functional, ethical, and rooted in neuroscience. Etta Loves is the rare kind of brand that makes parenting feel both easier and elevated.
Bawah Reserve - Located in Indonesia’s remote Anambas Islands, this barefoot-luxury resort has been on my bucket list for a while now. Bawah Reserve is built around a sustainability-first mission: protecting marine ecosystems, regenerating biodiversity, and uplifting neighboring village communities. From its coral restoration projects and pesticide-free mosquito control to releasing baby sea turtles into the wild, Bawah doesn’t just exist in nature—it actively cares for it. You’ll find overwater villas, jungle-to-table dining, and world-class wellness experiences, all wrapped in a reverent commitment to conservation. It’s not just a beautiful escape—it’s a model for what regenerative hospitality can and should be.
5 Things That Made Me Hopeful This Week:
Despite the current administrations efforts to weaken climate laws, states across the U.S. are still expanding clean energy programs—and winning in court. Their actions show local leadership can still drive progress, even when federal support lags.
Malaysia is introducing a landmark law that requires full community consent before development projects begin—protecting Indigenous rights, preventing environmental harm, and ensuring local voices help shape a more just and sustainable future. A model for others to follow.
Eight “eager beavers” in the Czech Republic built a dam that saved the government $1.2 million—proving once again that nature’s engineers can solve problems better than we can. Their work supports wildlife, prevents floods, and restores damaged landscapes naturally.
Scientists in Hawai‘i have discovered ocean fungi that can break down plastic—and get better at it over time. This breakthrough could lead to natural, scalable solutions for cleaning up beaches and oceans while protecting marine life.
Even amid rising tensions with India, Pakistan is quietly leading one of the world’s fastest solar revolutions—driven not by policy, but by people. Millions are ditching the unreliable grid for rooftop panels, proving that even in crisis, clean energy can rise.
Something I wrote recently: Top Safaris Shifting the Status Quo (to sustainable) (for BLLNR)
Thanks again for subscribing and going on this journey with me as we uncover true eco and ethical-luxuries and the positive ripple effect they can have on our lives and communities. Let me know what you learned or found useful, and whether you’ve tried any of the brands or ideas in this edit for yourself!
Let's build a future of conscious indulgence, together!
Until next time
-Bonnie