Traditional leather production significantly harms the environment, requiring large amounts of water and energy, and releasing harmful chemicals that pollute soil and water. The demand for livestock also leads to deforestation and biodiversity loss, worsening the ecological crisis. With growing global awareness of sustainability, finding eco-friendly alternatives has become essential. The innovative use of reusable materials like apple waste to create leather alternatives is particularly important.
Recently, the fashion and leather industries have sought solutions to reduce their environmental impact. A notable advancement is converting apple waste into leather alternatives, which helps minimize waste and promotes sustainability in an industry criticized for resource-intensive practices.
The Danish company Beyond Leather Materials has partnered with polymer producer Covestro to develop an innovative leather alternative made from apple waste generated during the production of apple juice and cider.
From Waste to High-End Material
Every year, approximately 4 million tons of waste are produced globally from apple juice and cider production. This waste is often viewed as a useless burden, ultimately discarded or burned, leading to significant resource waste and environmental pollution. However, Beyond Leather Materials has creatively transformed these previously discarded materials into an eco-friendly leather alternative—a new type of leather material—through innovative technology.
They begin by filtering out fibers such as seeds and stems from the apple waste, which contain high levels of polymers. This is followed by a series of reactions to create a strong and flexible material, which is then combined with a textile base layer. Finally, a protective layer produced by Covestro is applied to the surface.
Beyond Leather has positioned this material as a preferred new-generation option for various industries and applications, including the backpack industry and furniture sector. In the near future, this material may even be used in automotive interiors.
At Synberry, we are always focused on sustainable development and environmental innovation. We are confident in this emerging material that transforms apple waste into leather alternatives and see its enormous potential in the backpack industry. In the future, we plan to explore the application of this eco-friendly material in our products, creating backpacks that are both stylish and sustainable, meeting the dual demands of modern consumers for environmental friendliness and high quality. Through these efforts, we hope to contribute to protecting the Earth while providing our customers with more innovative choices.