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Beyond the hide: Exploring leather alternatives
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This review paper looks at the hidden environmental costs of leather, from the pollution and water use of traditional animal leather to the "vegan leather" alternatives made from plastic (like PU leather), which don't biodegrade and can shed microplastics over time. The takeaway: plant-based leathers made from materials like mushrooms, pineapple leaves, or cactus may offer a more sustainable middle ground, avoiding both animal cruelty and long-term plastic pollution that can eventually make its way into our water, food, and bodies.
The fashion industry being the most revenue generating is also the most environmentally damaging industry in the world. Except for the quantity of textile waste generated each fashion season; the amount of waste produced during the processing of the textile materials is also a huge problem. Leather industry being a branch of the apparel industry is the most polluting. The process of turning a putrescibil material into a non-putrescibil product through various chemical treatments is a polluting and environmentally degrading process. The cattle industry has the largest carbon, land and water footprint compared to any of its contemporary industry. Synthetic alternatives for animal leather are plastic based derived from fossil fuels such as polyurethane leather also known as PU leather. Being a non-biodegradable instead of taking away from the environment degradation rather adds to it. Though these auxiliaries have the benefit of sparing innocent animals from slaughter but the problem of pollution and harm to the environment still persists. Bio-leather or plant-based leather provides solution to this problem.
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Corn Husk Leather as an Innovative Alternative to Plastic Based PVC and PU Leather in Fashion
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Researchers processed corn agricultural waste into a leather-like composite material with up to 76% cellulose content, demonstrating flexibility and breathability comparable to PU and PVC synthetic leathers while offering substantially lower carbon footprint — though long-term durability and scalable production remain unresolved challenges.
Corn Husk Leather as an Innovative Alternative to Plastic Based PVC and PU Leather in Fashion
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Researchers extracted and processed cellulose-rich fibers from corn agricultural waste to create a leather-like composite material, demonstrating that the resulting corn husk leather offers flexibility, breathability, and durability comparable to PVC and PU synthetic leathers while producing a substantially lower carbon footprint and supporting circular economy waste valorisation.
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This review paper highlights how the fashion industry's reliance on synthetic, fossil-fuel-based fabrics contributes heavily to water pollution and microplastic waste, tiny plastic particles that can end up in our water, food, and even our bodies. The good news: emerging alternatives like algae-based fabrics could offer a biodegradable option that cuts down on pollution while giving new life to materials that would otherwise clog waterways. For consumers, this means the clothes we choose could soon come with real environmental and health tradeoffs worth paying attention to.
Liquid-State Surface Fermentation of Mycelium Mats to Produce Sustainable Leather-Like Materials
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Researchers developed a liquid-state surface fermentation method using mycelium mats to produce sustainable leather-like materials as a bio-based alternative to fossil-derived textiles, addressing the fashion industry's significant contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and wastewater pollution.
Next-gen fur design
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This review examines next-generation fur alternatives in fashion, comparing conventional animal fur, synthetic fur (which contributes to microplastic pollution), and emerging animal- and petrochemical-free next-gen materials derived from bio-based sources, analyzing sustainability performance and market adoption challenges.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.