Leather alternative made with apple waste & INSQIN®
Around 4 million tons of apple waste – cores, seeds, and stems – are generated every year from the production of apple juice and cider. Leap's journey started as a student project in 2017 with the idea of finding value in this apple waste. An international team drawn from several continents was hooked by the idea and turned the project into the company known today as Beyond Leather Materials, with a clear mission of Making Waste Beautiful.
Today, Leap® is a premium, 89% bio-based next-generation material. It features a three-layer structure with an apple waste core, supported by a Tencel™ backing, and a partly bio- and water-based PU coating for enhanced durability.
Beyond Leather has positioned Leap® to become the preferred next-gen material for various industries and applications. These include small goods typically made of leather (such as wallets, purses, and key cards), as well as furniture and, soon, automotive interiors.
From small leather goods to furniture and home, the leather industry is under scrutiny when it comes to the sustainability transition. The challenge is to bring to the market leather alternatives that enable premium products – in terms of look, feel, performance, and durability – but with a higher level of bio-based content, no usage of animal products, and a reduction in water use during production.
As Beyond Leather soon discovered, finding the right finish is a key piece of the next-gen material puzzle. The team needed a coating that would protect the material, be pleasant to interact with in a range of end applications, and deliver high performance.
“With around 25% of an apple discarded after pressing, we wanted to capture this waste’s value in premium applications. We believe that looking into waste streams and using upcycling is crucial to reducing emissions. It is our mission to show how much value there is in waste and, ultimately, make waste beautiful.”
With the first two layers of LEAP® – apple-waste bonded to a TENCELTM textile backing – in place, Beyond Leather approached us for the finishing touch. Together, we identified our waterborne, partly bio-based INSQIN® technology based on polyurethane dispersions as the best base for the protective coating for this groundbreaking leather alternative.
LEAP® is composed of more than 85% bio-based raw materials. Thanks in part to the properties of the polyurethane dispersion, LEAP® is well suited to premium applications across industries. These range from home and furniture to fashion and other goods typically made of leather. LEAP® will soon also be ready for automotive interiors.
“We’re always excited to team up with creative, innovative companies like Beyond Leather – and we’re proud that our partly bio-based INSQIN® PU dispersion is helping to give LEAP® the durability it needs to enable a more sustainable textile industry.”
Key benefits
- Largely bio-based: LEAP® contains more than 85% bio-based raw materials.
- 100% animal-free: LEAP® does not use any animal products.
- Premium and durable: Suitable for small goods, fashion, and furniture, and soon automotive interiors.
