Understanding the Problem
The materials we use every day often come with hidden environmental costs. Leather, a staple of the fashion industry, is widely associated with durability and luxury, but its production has far-reaching consequences for the climate, water systems, and ecosystems.
Why this matters
Long- term impacts of leather production through normal methods
The global leather industry has a major environmental impact. Animal leather production contributes to climate change through methane emissions from livestock, which account for about 14–15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Leather processing also relies heavily on toxic chromium tanning, used in nearly 90% of leather, and consumes large amounts of water, making tanneries major sources of water pollution.
Synthetic leather is often seen as an alternative, but it is typically made from fossil-fuel-based polyurethane. This leads to carbon emissions, plastic pollution, and materials that do not biodegrade. Together, animal and synthetic leather cause emissions, toxic waste, and long-term environmental damage, highlighting the need for a renewable, non-toxic, and biodegradable leather alternative.
We address these challenges by rethinking leather from the ground up. Our approach replaces both animal and synthetic leather with a bio-based alternative made from waste flower petals and natural materials. By eliminating fossil fuels, toxic chemicals, and persistent waste, our solution offers a cleaner, circular way to produce leather.