SEFF hemp fibre for fashion and interiors, softened to resemble cotton. Image SEFF.

Oval is a plastic-free collagen skin substrate made by Pact. Created from surplus collagen (from waste fish skins and scales) and enriched with natural oils, it is 100% traceable and free of harsh chemicals. Using a patented process, cosmetic-grade collagen is converted into collagen skins. These are infused with additional oils and finished like conventional leather. Image Pact.

Nuvi are developing a range of animal-free leather alternatives from bio-based ingredients. Creta is an innovative material with a soft, supple surface texture made from Champagne chalk. Mamora is made from stone, available in undyed natural shades. Papilio is derived from butterfly pea flowers. The materials are produced on undyed linen-viscose or organic cotton backing materials. They can be coloured, embossed and perforated. They require treatment to be waterproof. Image Nuvi.

AMSilk started producing Biosteel Fiber in 2015: a pioneering protein based fibre development that combined high performance properties with sustainability. Today AMSilk produce a range of fibres, from Biosteel to Ultrafine. It is made with biotechnology and is petroleum free. It is completely biodegradable in marine and aerobic conditions, leaving no plastic residue. It is converted into fabric using standard textile manufacturing equipment, turning man-made proteins into fibres for commercial textiles – footwear and garments, bags and wristbands, home textiles and even composites in automobiles. Image AMSilk.

Simplifyber produce moulded shoe uppers from a cellulose-based pulp. It is poured into a mould as a liquid and formed into the final shape with heat and pressure, reducing cutting and sewing. The material is made from a mix of wood pulp and other plants and biodegradable additives. It works somewhat similarly to making paper, but the resulting material is strong and durable. The strength comes from an additive derived from food waste, which creates cross-links in the bioplastic structure. It is recyclable with paper. Image Simplifyber.

Smobya NanoTwine transforms nutrients from food industry waste into nanocellulose, which is formed into sheets. Currently under development, it aims to provide an alternative to leather in fashion and interior applications. Image Smobya.

Arda Biomaterials created New Grain, a new type of leather alternative that is currently in development, made from brewers’ spent grain (BSG). According to Arda Biomaterials, for every 100 ltr of beer, there are 20 kg of spent grain. The protein and fibre in the waste grain is processed into materials suitable for textiles that can be processed using similar techniques to leather. Image Arda Biomaterials.

Oceanium develops functional seaweed ingredients for applications in health and wellbeing, skincare, packaging materials, food and beverages. As an example, they developed Ocean Ink, which is a fully biodegradable water-based ink derived from sustainably sourced seaweed. It has a naturally golden colour, which lends itself to high end and luxury packaging, offering an alternative to foil embossing (hot foiling, foil blocking). Image Oceanium.

Uncaged Innovations are developing a leather alternative that is bio-based, animal-free and doesn’t require tanning like traditional leather. The process fuses structural proteins from grains with other bio-based elements to create fibril networks, replacing the animal collagen required for traditional leather. The company claims that the end product emits 95% less greenhouse gasses, 93% less water, and 72% less energy than traditional animal leather. Image Uncaged Innovations.

Sequinova sequins and glitter are made with cellulose and are fully biodegradable in water in two months. There are a range of effects and colours, providing an alternative to regular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester or polyamide (PA), nylon. Image Sequinova.

Nonwoven suede for automotive, products, furniture and interiors made with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, produced by Kolon Industries.

Wastea bio-based synthetic leather made with a mix of waste tea leaves, which are ordinarily burnt, and bio-based polyurethane resin (bio-PUR). It is 40-95% bio-based, depending on the requirements. Image Wastea.

Mylea mushroom leather, made with mycelium, by Mycotech Lab MYCL. Image Mycotech Lab.

Faux fur made using Spiber‘s Brewed Protein bioplastic. This material is produced by genetically engineered microbes in a fermentation process exactly like brewing beer. It has already been used in textiles for fashion and automotive interiors, and has huge potential as a bio-based alternative to fibres derived from animals, petrochemicals and plants. Image Spiber.

Ecopel Koba faux fur is produced using DuPont Sorona, a partially bio-based polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyester fibre, with up to one-third renewable ingredients.

Ecopel Flur is a plant-based and biodegradable faux fur, free from petrochemicals, and utilising natural dyes, according to Ecopel. Image Ecopel.

Modern Meadow produce a synthetic leather they call Bio-Vera using a mix of recycled and bio-based ingredients. The scaffold structure is created with recycled car tyres. This is infused with Bio-Alloy, which is a mix of plant-based proteins and bio-polyurethane (PUR). A soy-based coating (Bio-Alloy Shield) provides the waterproof and breathable top layer. Image Modern Meadow.

Sqim Ephea is a flexible mycelium material that offers a sustainable alternative to animal leather and synthetic materials. Image Sqim.

Biophilica Treekind is a flexible, leather-like material, made from urban plant waste, agricultural waste and forestry waste. It is made up of lignocellulosic feedstock (leaves, agricultural waste and forestry waste) with a natural binder. It is coated with a bio-based material to make it waterproof. Available in a range of natural colours, it may also be modified with plant pigments as well as non-toxic natural pigments. It is home compostable, recyclable and estimated to have a very low resource footprint. Image Biophilica.

BioPuff by Ponda (formerly Saltyco) is a plant-based material that uses bulrush (also known as reed mace). It has a similar structure to feathers and down, providing warm, lightweight and water-resistant natural insulation. It is derived from marshes using paludiculture, an ancient practice of farming on wetlands, such as rewetted peatlands, bogs and fens. About 20 bulrush heads are needed to make enough material for one jacket, and the first rushes are expected to be harvested from the UK site in 2026.

Banofi, Ban-o-Fi (banana fibre leather), plant-based leather is made with 50% banana fibres, 30% agricultural waste additives and 20% plastic. The textile is suitable for fashion, furniture, automotive and packaging applications. Image Banofi.

VitroLabs is a biotech company developing a scalable tissue engineering platform for the production of leather in a lab. The goal is to produce cell cultivated leather that achieves the look, feel and performance of traditional leather without compromise. Image VitroLabs.

Bio-Fluff Savian faux fur is a mixture of cellulose and bast fibres. They transform materials such as nettle, hemp and flax – approximately 50% of which can be sourced from agricultural waste streams – into luxurious textile fibre that mimics fur, fleece and shearling. Image Bio-Fluff.

Reishi fine mycelium fabric by MycoWorks provides an alternative to animal leather and plastic-based textiles made using polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This luxury mycelium leather that looks and feels like fine animal leather but with much lower environmental impact. Image MycoWorks.

Mylo mushroom leather by Bolt Threads is produced with mycelium, grown in a vertical farming facility powered by 100% renewable energy and transformed it into a material that looks and feels like animal leather. Image Bolt Threads.

MycoComposite by Ecovative is a mushroom material that uses mycelium and agricultural waste to create lightweight composite panels suitable for packaging and interiors. They can be grown as flat panels, or directly into 3D forms such as to make mushroom packaging. Image DelOS.

MuSkin by Life Materials comes from Phellinus ellipsoideus, a gigantic inedible fungus that grows on trees in the subtropical forests. It is made from the outside skin of the mushroom and is suitable for shoes, luggage and accessories. It is very soft and feels like suede. Image Life Materials.

Mirum plant leather by Natural Fiber Welding is plastic-free and made with natural rubber, plant-based oil, natural pigments, and minerals. Image by Natural Fiber Welding (NFW).

Malai coconut leather is produced through bacterial fermentation of waste coconut water, a byproduct of coconut production. The bacterial cellulose that develops is enriched with natural fibres (banana, sisal, hemp), gums and resins to create a durable and flexible material which is converted into flat sheet or 3D parts. It is coloured with plant-based mordant-free dyes. Plant extracts like indigo, madder, cutch or marigold petals are used in order to achieve the colour. It is plastic-free, vegan and home compostable. Image Malai.

Leap is a next-gen leather alternative from Beyond Leather. Currently 89% bio-based, it is made up of a three-layer structure, with a Tencel Lyocell regenerated cellulose backing fabric, apple waste natural rubber blend middle layer that is plastic-free but not 100% bio-based, and partially bio-based polyurethane coating for durability. Image Beyond Leather.

Fruitleather is produced from mango waste mixed with additives and finished with a waterproof coating. It is backed with organic cotton to provide strength. This vegan leather is suitable as an alternative to animal leather in many situations, including fashion, footwear and furniture applications. Image Fruitleather.