Leap is a Vegan Leather Made from Repurposed Apple Waste
Elena Rahman — July 15, 2021 — Eco
References: explore-leap & dezeen
Beyond Leather is a Copenhagen-based company behind Leap. Made from a combination of leftovers from apple juice and cider production and natural rubber, Leap is a plant-based leather alternative. This cruelty-free product joins a cohort of biomaterials designed to mimic animal leather and mitigate environmental footprints.
The apple and rubber mix is applied to a textile backing made of cotton and wood fiber to achieve the desired leather-mimicking texture. It is then finished with a protective coating. This three-layered structure can be disassembled at the end of the material's life cycle to be disposed of properly. While a full life cycle assessment is yet to be undertaken, apple-based leather emits 85% less CO2 during its production than traditional leather.
Image Credit: Dezeen / Beyond Leather
The apple and rubber mix is applied to a textile backing made of cotton and wood fiber to achieve the desired leather-mimicking texture. It is then finished with a protective coating. This three-layered structure can be disassembled at the end of the material's life cycle to be disposed of properly. While a full life cycle assessment is yet to be undertaken, apple-based leather emits 85% less CO2 during its production than traditional leather.
Image Credit: Dezeen / Beyond Leather
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Alternatives to Leather - There is an ongoing trend towards biomaterials designed to mimic animal leather and reduce environmental footprints, creating disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion and accessories industries.
2. Circular Economy for Textile Waste - Disassembling three-layered structures like Leap's offers opportunities for circularity within the textile industry, reducing the waste generated and lowering emissions from production.
3. Plant-based Innovation - The emergence of plant-based alternatives like Leap for leather and other traditionally animal-sourced materials encourages disruptive innovation in the agricultural and food industries, as well as fast fashion and luxury brands.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Sustainable alternatives to animal leather like Leap create disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion industry, where conscious consumerism is on the rise.
2. Textile - The disassemblable nature of Leap's three-layered structure creates an opportunity for a circular economy within the textile industry, minimizing waste and emissions.
3. Agriculture - Plant-based innovations like Leap present opportunities for disruptive innovation in the agricultural industry, creating new uses for agricultural waste products and promoting sustainability.
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