There is a multitude of “new materials” on the market that claim to be a sustainable solution. And if you just want to avoid animal-based products, vegan products are surely an alternative. But they are NOT sustainable. There is a difference.
There is a difference between “vegan” and “sustainable”.
If we want to consum sustainable goods, we need to make sure that the yare PLASTIC FREE! And this is not the case with the majority of “vegan leathers”. Ananas-, apple- and cactus as well as most mushroom leathers consist of a mixture of those vegetable ingredients and Polyurethan (PU) which is usually based on petrochemical raw materials. That mixture is then applied on a textile base of either polyester or cotton.
So, if you intend to reduce plastic waste by buying vegan leather products, you could simply be falling into the trap of incomplete information.
One of the few 100% biodegradable solutions is HyphaLite™.
HyphaLite™ is a product by ISA COSM business unit which focusses on the development of next gen materials. It is a 100 % biobased, biodegradable* and compostable* material made from certified natural latex, FSC-certified regenerated cellulose fibers and contains mushrooms.
*Test Method: EN 14855-1:2012 with reference to EN 13432:2000
ISA Tantec has been a partner of walk4future 2024 and also joins the walk4future 2025 edition – not only with shoes but this time we will also develop specific bags for the walk which will follow the motto “Walk MORE, Spend LESS, Invest BETTER”
