Fashion for Good, in collaboration with Bestseller, PVH Corp., adidas, and Inditex, launched the Biophilica Pilot to assess the potential of Treekind®, a sustainable and compostable leather alternative. The project successfully transitioned from manual production to a semi-continuous demo line, delivering promising results, including prototype products such as lifestyle footwear and handbags, alongside positive performance testing. The primary objective was to validate Treekind® as a viable eco-friendly leather alternative, emphasising manufacturability, consistency, and scalability for commercial use.

In addition to evaluating the material’s technical performance, the project focused on assessing its environmental impact and end-of-life pathways. Biophilica secured certification from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Treekind® and conducted a third-party life cycle assessment (LCA) using two different backing materials—Tencel and cotton. The material was also tested for home composting and met the ISO 14855-1 standard. Furthermore, Treekind® obtained PETA 100% vegan certification.

The pilot demonstrated successful upscaling of production, the development of various prototypes, and strong material performance in tests for abrasion resistance, cold crack resistance, and tensile strength. Moving forward, Biophilica remains committed to co-development with industry partners to refine and expand Treekind®'s applications. The company is actively fundraising to scale manufacturing and enhance material performance across multiple sectors, including upholstery, homeware, accessories, footwear, and cosmetic packaging. Their long-term goal is to integrate Treekind® into everyday consumer products, working closely with partners to bring the material to market. 

To learn more about Treekind® refer to the full article on Fashion for Good’s website.