The Characteristics of Mycelium Leather
VTT’s mycelium leather boasts a leathery look and feel comparable to animal leather. Senior scientist Géza Szilvay emphasizes its strength, making it a robust alternative. What sets it apart is its capacity for coloration and patterning, eliminating the need for additional backing or supporting materials.
The Production Process
VTT’s patent-pending technology leverages common bioreactors for growing mycelium, ensuring scalability for commercial production. The use of fermentation technology, already prevalent in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, facilitates continuous manufacturing. VTT’s film-making process, employing pilot equipment, ensures consistent quality, competitive production prices, and reduced material wastage.
Sustainability at the Core
The development of mycelium leather aligns with VTT’s commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of conventional leather and synthetic leather production. By utilizing this bio-based alternative, the fashion industry can transition towards more sustainable practices without compromising on aesthetics or performance.
Industrial Applicability
VTT’s approach enables the continuous manufacturing of mycelium leather sheets by the meter, making it applicable to industrial roll-to-roll production. This scalability positions mycelium leather as a viable option for large-scale fashion production, further reducing the industry’s ecological footprint.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While mycelium leather presents a promising solution, researchers at VTT are committed to further refinement. Ongoing efforts focus on enhancing tear strength and abrasion resistance through bio-based approaches, ensuring that mycelium leather meets the rigorous standards of the fashion industry.
Conclusion
VTT’s mycelium leather stands at the forefront of sustainable innovation in fashion, offering a compelling alternative to traditional leather. With its unique properties, scalable production process, and commitment to addressing environmental concerns, mycelium leather paves the way for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future in the world of fashion.
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF MYCELIUM LEATHER, AVOIDING RESOURCE-INTENSIVE PROCESSES AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN THE PROCESS.
Sustainable alternative to leather and synthetic leather
James O’Sullivan
27.07.2021Thanks to VTT, people may one day be wearing accessories, footwear and garments made of fungal mycelium, a bio-based raw material that can be sustainably processed into leather-like materials.
“The material has a leathery look and feel and can be as strong as animal leather,” said VTT’s senior scientist Géza Szilvay. “It also offers the possibility to be coloured and patterned, and it does not contain any backing or supporting materials.”
— Read on www.goodnewsfinland.com/researchers-in-finland-develop-sustainable-alternative-to-leather-and-synthetic-leather/
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
