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Recent technological innovations in mycelium materials as leather substitutes: a patent review
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This patent review examined recent innovations in mycelium-based leather substitutes made from filamentous fungi, covering fabrication methods, post-processing techniques, and their potential as sustainable alternatives to animal and plastic-based leathers.
Leathery mycelium materials, made from the vegetative part of filamentous fungi, have garnered significant interest in recent years due to their great potential of providing environmentally sustainable alternatives to animal- and plastic-based leathers. In this systematic patent review, we provide an in-depth overview of the fabrication methods for mycelium materials as leather substitutes recently described in patents. This overview includes strategies for fungal biomass generation and industrial developments in the sector. We discuss the use of various fungal species, plasticizers, crosslinking agents, and post-processing techniques, thereby highlighting potential gaps in scientific knowledge and identifying opportunities, challenges, and concerns in the field. Our analysis suggests that mycelium materials have significant potential for commercialization, with a growing number of companies betting on this new class of biomaterials. However, we also reveal the need for further scientific research to fully understand the properties of these materials and to unlock potential applications. Overall, this patent review delineates the current state of the art in leathery mycelium 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.
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 explores mycelium-based materials as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, which shed harmful microplastics and microfibers into ecosystems. Fungal materials could help reduce plastic production at the source, potentially curbing the growing burden of microplastic pollution on human and environmental health.
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.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.