Food processing creates large amounts of organic waste that can become a valuable resource for new materials. By transforming apple waste into a high-performance material, new technologies are opening possibilities for alternatives to traditional leather- and PVC-based products.
Turning apple waste into a new generation of materials
Around 4 million tons of apple waste, including cores, seeds, and stems, are generated every year from the production of apple juice and cider. Beyond Leather Materials has developed a leather-look material that uses this waste stream, creating an alternative for applications traditionally made with leather.
The material uses a three-layer structure combining an apple waste-based core, a textile backing, and a partly bio-based, water-based polyurethane coating that improves durability and performance.
A key challenge in developing leather alternatives is achieving the right balance between appearance, touch, durability, and bio-based content. To address this, Beyond Leather Materials collaborated with Covestro to develop a protective coating solution that helps improve the material’s durability, feel, and performance for applications such as fashion, furniture, and other leather-like products.
The resulting material contains 91% bio-based raw materials and is designed for products such as wallets, purses, key cards, furniture, and future automotive interior applications. It is also fully animal-free, providing an alternative material approach for industries exploring new solutions beyond traditional leather.
This innovation demonstrates how waste streams can be transformed into functional materials, combining design, performance, and resource recovery.
