Everything about AppleSkin™ leather

What is apple leather?
Apple leather is also known as AppleSkin™, an innovative, vegan, and sustainable material. You may have heard of it before, as it is a great alternative to animal leather. But there is so much more to tell about this versatile, luxurious, and upcycled material. We currently have 3 items made from this material in our collection. View the items here. Would you like to learn more about this unique material? Read more about it below.

How is apple leather made?
Apple leather is made from the cores, peels, and pulp of apples left over after food and juice production. At AdornPay, we do not like waste, so naturally we chose a material made from leftover apples! These remnants are first puréed and then spread out into a sheet, after which they are dried.

Once most of the moisture has disappeared, it becomes a supple, leather-like sheet. It is then combined with polyurethane and coated onto cotton and polyester canvas. This ensures that everything stays together. Once this process is complete, you have the result: AppleSkin™ leather!

Is apple leather sustainable?
Apple leather is more sustainable than animal leather and PU leather. Apples that would otherwise be discarded are used to produce apple leather. This prevents the waste from being burned, reducing emissions. Apples are also not specially harvested for this purpose.

The use of polyurethane (PU) and polyester in the production of apple leather means that there is still room for improvement in terms of sustainability, but this alternative material is certainly a good start! Apple leather is not yet biodegradable, but fortunately we are constantly developing, and the future of apple leather looks brighter and even more sustainable.

Currently, a great deal of work is being done to develop enzymes that help break down polyester. Natural fibers with similar properties to petroleum-based yarns are also being developed. In the meantime, apple leather can become more sustainable by increasing the percentage of apple in the material.

We continue to closely follow all developments surrounding the different materials and their level of sustainability, and we always do our best to choose the most sustainable options!