Our leather is made mainly from apple waste recovered from the juicing industry (skin, flesh and seeds). Third-party radiocarbon testing confirms 69% biobased carbon content, and it is USDA BioPreferred Certified. Its biobased portion is biodegradable (supplier data: about 300 days in soil); the material also contains about 31% PU base.
Conversion · driving a car 0.25 kg CO₂/km ·
a mature tree absorbs 21 kg of carbon per year
vs PU ~ cowhide · ≈ 3 weeks–4.5 months of a tree absorbing carbon
Conversion · about 65 litres per shower (around an 8-minute shower) · apple leather uses PU as its carrier, so its water use is similar to synthetic leather
vs genuine leather · ≈ 1,540 litres of water
Most apple pomace ends up in landfill, breaking down to produce methane (with 25 times the warming potential of CO₂) · we recover it and turn it into fibre
Juicing waste · diverted from landfill
Pick a piece and see how 69% apple leather compares against PU or genuine cowhide — the same engine used on every product page.
Our apple leather is certified under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred Program, with its biobased carbon content verified by a third-party lab (Beta Analytic) through ASTM D6866-22 radiocarbon testing.
USDA Certified · ASTM D6866-22
PU 16 · cowhide 60–110 / m²
Soil / Marine biodegradable
vs PU / vs cowhide
per kg vs animal leather · cowhide is 14–24× PU
25–30% of fresh fruit weight
Four stages, from pomace recovery to fibre leather-making, the spunlace backing and workshop inspection. Every step is visible.
The global juicing industry produces about 4 million tonnes of apple waste each year (25–30% of fresh fruit weight), most of which goes to landfill and breaks down into methane (with 25 times the warming potential of CO₂). We rescue it from the waste stream, then low-temperature dry and grind it into apple fibre.
Apple fibre and plant-based fibres are blended with PU resin, with radiocarbon testing (ASTM D6866-22) confirming 69% biobased carbon content and USDA BioPreferred certification.
The backing uses spunlace technology, mechanically entangling fibres with high-pressure water jets, with zero chemical binders and zero glue. Paired with natural fibres, the whole material is fully biodegradable.
Every hide is inspected at the workshop for evenness, flexibility, texture and water resistance. Any hide that does not meet standard is rejected in full.
Each year 4 million tonnes of apple pomace go to landfill worldwide, breaking down into methane (with 25 times the warming potential of CO₂). For every kilogram of apple waste our supplier uses in place of PU, about 5.28 kg CO₂ of emissions are saved.
Raising and tanning 1 kg of animal leather takes about 17,100 litres of water (the equivalent of 70 bathtubs). Cowhide uses 14–24 times the water of synthetic leather. Apple leather uses PU as its carrier, so its water use is similar to synthetic leather, lowering the overall water footprint by about 95%.
About 90% of animal leather worldwide is chrome-tanned, and hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen. This material has hexavalent chromium of < 3 PPM, meeting the EN71-3 infant safety standard.
Apple leather fully breaks down in about 300 days in soil and about 900 days in marine environments, and the waste can be converted into organic fertiliser. Standard PU is hard to degrade and continuously releases microplastic fibres in use.
| Item | Apple LeatherApple | Animal LeatherChrome-tanned · Animal | Synthetic PUSynthetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal content | ✓0% | ✗100% | ✓0% |
| Biobased content | ✓69% USDA | — | ✗0% |
| Carbon footprint kg CO₂e/m² | ✓~7.6 | ✗60–110 | 16 |
| Fully biodegradable | ✓soil 10 / marine 30 months | 5–10 years (with chrome-tanning pollution) | ✗50–100 years |
| Heavy-metal tanning | ✓not needed (hexavalent chromium <3 PPM) | ✗chrome-tanned (carcinogen) | ✓not needed |
| Made from waste | ✓apple waste + spunlace fibre | ✗raw material | ✗petrochemical feedstock |
| Durability | 5–10 years of normal use | ✓10+ years (most durable) | ✗peels after 2–5 years |
| Scratch resistance | △marks soften over time | △marks easily but repairable | ✗coating scratches easily |
| Water resistance | ✓PU base is naturally water-repellent | ✗water-sensitive, leaves marks | ✓fully waterproof |
| Microplastic shedding | ✓biodegrades, no residue | — | ✗continuously sheds microplastics |
| Infant contact EN71-3 | ✓compliant | △depends on tanning | △depends on coating |
The base of apple leather is PU resin blended with 69% plant fibre. Unlike animal leather, it does not need conditioning oils or wax; unlike plastic, it dislikes prolonged soaking and sun exposure. Here are practical tips for using this material.
Wipe dirt gently with a lightly damp cotton cloth. If needed, use a tiny amount of a mild neutral cleanser (such as baby wash) diluted in water, wipe gently, then dry immediately with a dry cloth.
The PU base is water-repellent, so just blot raindrops away. If a large area gets wet, blot with tissue, then let it air-dry in a cool, ventilated place. Do not use a hairdryer or hot air.
Store it in a breathable cotton bag (not a plastic bag, which traps moisture and causes mould). Stuff it lightly with soft padding to keep its shape and avoid deformation from long-term pressure. Keep the storage area dry and ventilated, away from heaters and kitchen fumes.
Brief sun exposure is fine, but avoid prolonged exposure (over 8 hours). UV light accelerates ageing of the PU base, dulling and hardening it.