A UK company is turning green waste and agricultural leftovers into a leather-like upholstery material for furniture, using a biobased coating from food production residues. This matters because most textiles and furniture waste ends up in landfill or is burned. The project directly tackles the environmental cost of conventional upholstery, which relies on petrochemicals and resource-intensive leather processing. The partners are combining Biophilica’s plant-based Treekind material with traceless’s natural polymer coating, aiming to create a home-compostable, plastic-free alternative that can be manufactured using standard industrial equipment. If successful, the material could replace leather and synthetic fabrics in sofas, chairs, and other furniture. That would reduce the carbon footprint and water use of upholstery production, and eliminate plastic pollution from discarded furniture. It would also create a new market for agricultural by-products and green waste, turning a disposal problem into a manufacturing resource. The project includes lifecycle analysis and compostability testing to verify environmental claims, and the partners already have relationships with fashion and luxury brands, suggesting a clear route to commercial adoption.
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**The need** <1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled. 22million furniture pieces are discarded yearly in the UK. The majority is sent directly to landfill (NorthLondonWasteAuthority-2018). Textile waste is burned, exported, or goes to landfill (European Environment Agency-2023). In this project, we will develop an advanced upholstery material that: * causes no plastic pollution * has a minimal carbon footprint of =8CO2e compared to leather =120kg CO2e and =1% of the water used in leather processing The global eco-friendly furniture market size was estimated at USD43.26 billion (2022), estimated to grow to USD83.76 billion in 2030 with 8.6%CAGR during 2022-2030 (GrandView-Research-2023). UK-based Biophilica has developed Treekind(r), a pioneering, multi-award winning leather alternative from green waste, plant-based binders and natural pigments. Treekind(r) is petrochemical-free---certified 100% biobased by USDA---and home-compostable (ISO14855-1). German innovation traceless(r) is a natural plastic substitute derived from plant-leftovers of agricultural processing. The material is regenerative, fossil-free and bio-based while avoiding direct food conflict. It belongs to a new generation of natural polymer materials, is certified plastic and microplastic-free. Thanks to the resource-saving production technology, 91% CO2 emissions and 89% fossil energy are saved in production and disposal compared to virgin plastic. The material is home compostable and harmless to humans and nature. They produce traceless(r) as a base material in pellet form, which can be processed into rigid applications, flexible films or coatings using standard processing technologies. Biophilica will develop Treekind Home to incorporate advanced, proven compostable and biobased functionalities suitable for furniture applications, by working with Traceless and their biobased coating derived from food production residues. **The Partners will together develop:** * Advanced mechanical properties for Treekind Home (Biophilica) * Advanced surface properties for Treekind Home (traceless) * LCA and Home Compostability Testing (Subcontractor Eurofins--accredited subcontractor) * Commercial development, exploitation and IPR (Biophilica/traceless) **B2B strategies** Biophilica and traceless both sell material to brands that make consumer products. **Brand relationships** Biophilica has relationships with Bestseller and BEEN for leathergoods. We launched a capsule collection of Treekind(r) in watch straps with Swiss luxury brands ID Geneve's Watches. We've implemented pilots with FFG brands for \>2 years and have been in communication with furniture brands for 3 years. **Route-to-Market Strategy** Biophilica will scale the jointly-developed material for furniture on external continuous lines with brand support. **Biophilica's awards/press:** * Fashion District's Manufacturing Futures 2021---Winner * Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2021---Finalist * Vogue Yoox 2021---Finalist * Microfiber Innovation Challenge 2022---Finalist * InnovateUK Women In Innovation 2022---Winner * Cartier Women's Initiative 2024---1st Place Winner Europe
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