# Apple Waste Leather Alternatives Leap is a Vegan Leather Made from Repurposed Apple Waste By Elena Rahman | Published 2021-07-15 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leap References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2021/07/14/leap-beyond-leather-apples/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+dezeen+%28Dezeenfeed%29) & [explore-leap](https://www.explore-leap.com/) Beyond Leather is a Copenhagen-based company behind Leap. Made from a combination of leftovers from apple juice and cider production and natural rubber, Leap is a plant-based leather alternative. This cruelty-free product joins a cohort of biomaterials designed to mimic animal leather and mitigate environmental footprints. The apple and rubber mix is applied to a textile backing made of cotton and wood fiber to achieve the desired leather-mimicking texture. It is then finished with a protective coating. This three-layered structure can be disassembled at the end of the material's life cycle to be disposed of properly. While a full life cycle assessment is yet to be undertaken, apple-based leather emits 85% less CO2 during its production than traditional leather. Image Credit: Dezeen / Beyond Leather ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 73% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 10% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Sustainable Alternatives to Leather:** There is an ongoing trend towards biomaterials designed to mimic animal leather and reduce environmental footprints, creating disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion and accessories industries. - **Circular Economy for Textile Waste:** Disassembling three-layered structures like Leap's offers opportunities for circularity within the textile industry, reducing the waste generated and lowering emissions from production. - **Plant-based Innovation:** The emergence of plant-based alternatives like Leap for leather and other traditionally animal-sourced materials encourages disruptive innovation in the agricultural and food industries, as well as fast fashion and luxury brands. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion:** Sustainable alternatives to animal leather like Leap create disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion industry, where conscious consumerism is on the rise. - **Textile:** The disassemblable nature of Leap's three-layered structure creates an opportunity for a circular economy within the textile industry, minimizing waste and emissions. - **Agriculture:** Plant-based innovations like Leap present opportunities for disruptive innovation in the agricultural industry, creating new uses for agricultural waste products and promoting sustainability. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Fruit-Based Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peelsphere.md) - [PETA-Approved Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biodegradable-leather-alternative.md) - [Cruelty-Free Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crueltyfree-leather-alternative.md) - [Alt Leather Phone Cases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casetify-bioveg-collection.md) - [Plant-Based Leather Smartwatch Bands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reclassic-apple-watch-band.md) - [Plant-Based Car Leather](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leather-alternative-1.md) - [Cactus Leather Tech Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ces-2024-otterbox.md) - [Sustainable Synthetic Leathers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basf.md) - [Plastic-Free Circular Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stella-mccartney-3.md)