Rotterdam Students Turn Fruit, Vegetable Waste Into Durable “Leather”

In an effort to battle food waste, undergraduates from Willem de Kooning Academie, in South Holland, have created  handbags made of mangoes, shopping bags derived from nectarines, and a lampshades created with pulped peaches.  Some of the durabilities and textures are close to leather and this budding industry had immense promise as an animal friendly alternative to the leather industry.

The designers are constantly improving on their creations.  One of the designers, Hugo de Boon, explained that “a strawberry patch leather is quite fragile, tearing if you often fold.  Adding pumpkin or apple can change that.”

The materials are gathered from the 7,700 pounds of overripe or cosmetically unattractive produce that is thrown in the garbage throughout the city every day.  Inspired by a technique that chefs use to mash, cook, and then dry fruits, the designers have turned this into a commercially viable product.  BMW and Porsche have contacted the group about using the material for car seats. 

http://www.ecouterre.com/rotterdam-students-turn-fruit-vegetable-waste-into-durable-leather/