Producing and supplying an alternative made partly from upcycled Danish leftover apples from juice and cider industry.
About
Our story starts with Hannah Michaud who studied Sustainable Fashion at the Copenhagen School of Design and Technology. She got the idea to make a material from food waste in a course where she learned to look to nature for design inspiration. She started to study the apple waste in juice and cider production - the core, seeds, and stems left over after pressing for juice or cider from both - a scientific and exploratory perspective. When she found out that there is no real alternative to leather, she got inspired to use this new waste-based material as a leather alternative. Hannah’s idea soon garnered the attention and support of Mikael Eydt, and Leap came to live in 2017. We've created Leap, a circular apple-waste based leather alternative with over 85% bio-based composition. It features a three-layered structure: apple waste blend core, Tencel™ textile backing, and a water-based, partially bio-based, PU coating for durability and waterproofing. Our goal is to achieve 100% natural material. Leap serves various industries, from small leather goods to automotive, and is produced in Denmark for global shipping. We believe in celebrating waste by transforming it into valuable and beautiful products. Our commitment to transparency drives us to communicate openly about our products and processes, as we thrive on overcoming challenges and pushing boundaries.
Sustainable Development
The main sustainable point is in our product – Leap. As mentioned previously, Leap is the core of our business. One of our main values is to be fully transparent. That’s why we do not refer to Leap as being a fully sustainable alternative but rather as a next-gen material. However, we are on a clear path to becoming 100% natural, which highlights our commitment to constant development. Currently, Leap has 89% bio-based composition. Our development is also in our structure of the material, where Leap was previously less than 85% biobased. Utilizing energy-efficient production methods, we have managed to streamline the creation of Leap® to just 1 day, reducing water consumption by a remarkable 99% and cutting CO2 emissions by approximately 85%* compared to traditional leather production. (*Internal calculations based on: Leather Carbon Footprint - Review of the European Standard EN 16887:2017 (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) Moreover, our material production completely avoids the use of harmful substances, reflecting our commitment to responsible practices
Sustainability Impact
One of our main aims is to embark on this journey together to shape a brighter future for materials. Our patented process revolutionizes the production of leather alternatives and advances the industry towards using waste for good. As a B2B supplier, we are committed to shaping a more responsible future for a broad spectrum of industries. From leftover cider and juice production to an upcycled high value material, our next-gen material humbly contributes to making a difference while addressing the mounting amounts of apple pulp generated each year. We have the Head of Product Development & Sustainability present on our team. The seek for an alternative: -According to the research from: State of the industry report, Next-gen materials – 2021 (Material Innovation Initiative) 38 out of 40 leading fashion brands are actively searching for the next-gen materials. And why apple waste? - According to the publication: Sustainable use of apple pomace in different industrial sectors, there are several factors such as: -4 mio tons of apple waste are generated every year -It’s an untapped resource available almost worldwide. -Approx. 25% of the apple fruit goes to waste -The accumulation of apple pulp has become an environmental concern. *Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358913042_Sustainable_Use_of_Apple_Pomace_AP_in_Different_Industrial_Sectors
SDGs goals and Sustainable development strategy
Goal 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: One of the main SDGs that Beyond Leather focuses on is fostering sustainable innovation. By utilizing leftover apples to create a next-gen material / leather alternative we are at the forefront of technological advancements in materials science. Our commitment to local source and production in Denmark also supports a resilient and efficient supply chain. Through continuous research and development, we aim to inspire positive changes in the industry, promoting more sustainable practices and reducing the environmental impact of traditional leather production. As mentioned previously; we reduce water consumption by 99% and cut CO2 emissions by approximately 85%* compared to traditional leather production. This is based on Internal calculations based on: Leather Carbon Footprint - Review of the European Standard EN 16887:2017 (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)
Goal 12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Through the use of glass jars, and ensuring minimal waste in their practice of production as well us during their workshops. They also encourage people to turn to nature to find edible and nutritious plants instead of only consuming through buying products from mainstream supermarkets.
Goal 13. Climate Action: Addressing the urgency of climate action outlined in SDG 13, our production process plays a vital role in reducing and lowering the carbon footprint associated with Leap production. The use of leftover apples from Denmark as the primary raw material significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional leather manufacturing. We want to provide a sustainable alternative that not only minimizes the environmental impact but also encourages the shift towards using waste for good in a broader spectrum of industries
Strategy & Mission
Our Philosophy at Beyond Leather Materials is: Make Waste Beautiful - Show the world that there is beauty to be found in waste with a potential for creative inspiration. Use Waste for Good - Advance the leather industry towards using waste for good and redefine materials with upcycled waste. Reshape the Future - Upcycle waste into material for industries from small leather goods to the automotive industry.
Impact Evaluation
We’re currently on the scale of having 89% bio-based content in our Leap product, which was a great development for us. Regarding emissions or water consumption read section on Sustainability Impact.
Motivation
I think our main motivation is our philosophy in what we see we can achieve with Leap and how we can contribute to the better future.
