Leather Alternatives

Leap by Beyond Leather Materials Earns USDA Biobased Certification with 91% of Apple Waste Content

Denmark’s Beyond Leather Materials announces that its alternative to leather Leap has earned the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label, showcasing its 91% biobased content.

Made from apple waste from European juice and cider production, Leap is an environmentally friendly, next-gen material that is said to deliver a leather-like performance, feel, and touch for use in small leather goods, furniture, home decor, and soon, automotive. As a 100% animal-free material, Leap has also recently earned the Vegan Trademark certified by The Vegan Society.

Mikael Eydt, co-founder and CEO of Beyond Leather, shares, “Earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label for Leap® with 91% biobased content is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved when we look at the value of waste.”

Beyond Leather Materials announces that its alternative to leather Leap has earned the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label, showcasing its 91% biobased content.
© Image courtesy of Beyond Leather Materials

Combating inaccurate marketing claims

The certification was verified through USDA BioPreferred, a program established to promote and increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased products as renewable alternatives to petroleum-based products, benefiting the economy and the environment. The program also supports economic growth by creating jobs and expanding markets.

“The label also makes it easier for consumers and federal buyers to locate biobased products and consider planet-friendlier options”

According to data shared by Beyond Leather Materials from the latest USDA Economic Impact Report, biobased products positively impact the environment by displacing approximately 9.4 million barrels of oil annually and potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents each year. Besides their sustainability credentials, these renewable products are cost-effective and perform as well or better than their conventional counterparts, explains the startup.

Vernell Thompson from the USDA BioPreferred Program comments, “The label is intended to help spur economic development, create new jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities.

“But the label also makes it easier for consumers and federal buyers to locate biobased products and consider planet-friendlier options during purchase decisions. By having Leap USDA Certified Biobased, Beyond Leather Materials ApS joins an expanding list of businesses combating inaccurate marketing claims and the practice of greenwashing, while also contributing to a thriving bioeconomy that decreases our reliance on petroleum.”

Beyond Leather Materials partners with Veshin
© Beyond Leather Materials/Veshin

A positive change

Founded in Copenhagen in 2017, Beyond Leather Materials aims to become a leading supplier of next-gen materials to replace animal and synthetic leather in various industries by  “making waste beautiful.”

Leap is readily available as the company has expanded to commercial scale, producing over 100,000 m² annually. The renewable material comes in five standard colors and four textures (with many more to come) produced on 1.5 m wide rolls to minimize waste and meet the increasing demand.

This June, the company partnered with Veshin, a sustainably progressive design and manufacturing facility, to make Leap an available source for fashion, home, and furniture products.

As mentioned, Leap has also obtained the Vegan Trademark certification from The Vegan Society. Beyond Leather Materials shared with the organization’s audience the significance of this milestone: “In today’s market, both companies and consumers seek products they can trust 100%, so by having the vegan certification, we can provide clear assurance that Leap does not contain animal-derived ingredients or animal testing, strengthening our relationship with partners who look for material that reflects their ethical beliefs.”

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