Alternative leather manufacturing moves towards sustainable sources and environmentally friendly chemical processes
A small clutch purse demonstrates the utility of silk leather in manufacturing products
Leather is an ever growing multi-billion dollar industry requiring more than 3.8 billion bovine animals – equal to one for every two people on earth – to sustain production each year. And while the products – clothing, shoes, furniture and more – can be quite elegant and durable, the environmental impact of leather production has been severe, leading to deforestation, water and land overuse, environmental pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at Tufts University School of Engineering set out to find an alternative to leather, with similar texture, flexibility and stiffness, yet focused on materials that are sustainable, non-toxic, and friendly to the environment. It turns out, we have been wearing that material all along – it’s silk, but instead of weav
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VIDEO: The process of making the silk leather begins with dissolving the fibers and reformulating the protein for extrusion and printing into swatches with customized patterns view more
Credit: Laia Soldevilla, Fio Omenetto, Tufts University SilkLab
Leather is an ever growing multi-billion dollar industry requiring more than 3.8 billion bovine animals - equal to one for every two people on earth - to sustain production each year. And while the products - clothing, shoes, furniture and more - can be quite elegant and durable, the environmental impact of leather production has been severe, leading to deforestation, water and land overuse, environmental pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Engineers created light-activated materials that execute precise movements and form complex shapes without the need for wires, motors or other energy sources. The research could lead to smart light-driven systems such as high-efficiency solar cells that automatically follow the sun s direction.