A New Zealand company is converting discarded kiwifruit into a plastic-free, plant-based leather alternative, with fashion, automotive and furniture markets in its sights.

“I got bored in lockdown,” says Shelley Houston, founder of Material Kiwi.

“I have previously manufactured my own makeup in my kitchen at home, and had seen all the waste from kiwifruit, and was looking for a better opportunity for it rather than just going to feedstock.”

The choice of raw material comes down to chemistry.

“The kiwifruit actually is a bit of a superfruit, and it has really high cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignocellulose in it.”

The process has evolved from using the whole fruit to extracting specific components.

“The skin alone has really good properties in it for water resistance and against sun damage.”

It will still be two to three years before it hits the shelves as a product.

“We’ve done our proof of concept, and we’re just working towards our minimal viable product at the moment, just to show that it does have enough tensile strength and durability to it.”

She says brands are already interested in their future.

“We’ve got 80 brands across New Zealand and internationally that are really keen to test it out and give it a go.”

Houston says the target market follows a staged path, starting with fashion accessories such as bags, wallets and belts before moving into footwear, furniture and automotive upholstery, with automotive the main goal. She says supply is not expected to be a limiting factor, with packhouses and on-orchard waste available.

“Most of these types of materials, as they call them, next-generation materials, are heavily plastic-coated or have plastics in them to just give it that durability.

“We are pushing that norm; it’s all completely plastic-free, and we are aiming to hold true to that the whole way through the process.

“Deforestation as well is a big issue, and the hazardous chemicals that go into the waterways.”

Government grants, including the AgMark grant, have supported development to date, Houston says, with further funding under consideration towards the end of the year.

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