BATWATEX
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
BATWATEX is a sustainable vegan leather alternative made from potato leaves and technical hemp fibres, covered with a biodegradable polymer. The material can be used for the production of shoes, bags, accessories, clothes and interior pieces. When comparing to other plant based leather substitutes our solution is more environmentally friendly and durable.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
BATWATEX is a sustainable vegan leather alternative made from potato leaves and technical hemp fibre. The material consists of two layers – the base that is made from plant fibres and the upper that is made from biopolymer. BATWATEX can be used for the production of shoes, bags, accessories, clothes and interior pieces.
BATWATEX is a unique material, there is no such vegan leather made from similar raw materials. Though, there are various competitors who are making plant based vegan leathers from pineapples, grapes, apples, cactuses, coconuts, mushroom and other plants. However, these materials are not durable, despite the price that is higher than the price for natural leather. There are also vegan leathers made from PU or PVC, these materials are durable, but their composition and production process is not environmentally sustainable, as well as these synthetic alternatives are not breathable. Our material in turn is as breathable and durable as natural leather, but more environmentally friendly.
Besides composition and material properties, our material also differs by its appearance. We conduced a market research during which we have interviewed designers, who are working with sustainable materials in order to identify their needs and understand better what is missing on the market. The research revealed, that almost all vegan leathers imitate the appearance of genuine leather. However, designers are looking for the material that reminds about the nature. That is why our material’s texture looks like a zoomed in leaf. As well as it is coloured with natural dyes only.
Key objectives for sustainability
There is a huge problem in the fashion industry. It is estimated that fashion industry generates about 92 million tons of waste each year. With leather being one of the biggest sources of this pollution of both water and land. Moreover, it is estimated that over 50 million of animals yearly are killed for the sake of leather production.
Furthermore, there is a problem with potato leaves. The leaves are usually cut approximately 1-2 week before the potatoes are collected. Though, the potato leaves are not used for animal food or compost, because they contain toxic element. Therefore, farmers usually burn the leaves.There are approximately 50,000 tones of potato leaves thrown away yearly in Latvia alone. It is estimated that approximately 1133 kg of CO2 emit in the atmosphere, when burning the leaves. Which means that there is a potential to reduce CO2 emission by 56 650 tones in Latvia yearly.
That is why because of the unique mix of materials chosen BATWATEX is environmentally sustainable. We have estimated that each square meter of our material produced offsets approximately 7.76 kg of carbon dioxide emissions due to the fact that we are saving potato leaves from being burned and because when hemp is growing it is absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Our material has a unique texture – it does not imitate the texture of leather, rather than resembles the nature, the texture of natural leaves. We believe it is important, because the philosophy of hardware products should be reflected in their appearance and our vision for BATWATEX is that it is a plant based solution that can substitute animal skins or plastic leathers (made from PU/PVC). That is why our material's texture will look as a zoomed in leaf, thus reminding of nature.
Besides having purely visual function, the texture of the material has an important function. The texture is pressed to the upper layer of the material that protects it from water and dust, thus adding extra functional properties.
Overall, we believe that our material is an example of functionality merged with aesthetics.
Key objectives for inclusion
Societal impact:
There are health benefits associated with the implementation of our project that is associated with the decrease of leaves burned yearly, as this process is associated not only with emission of CO2 , but also with emission of heavy metals and other toxic elements in the atmosphere, that consequently cause cancer, allergies and other diseases.
The implementation of our project will also improve living standards of people who are growing potatoes, because they will get an additional revenue source. As well as our project will create new work places.
Gender dimension:
Our project is inclusive of all genders and we are taking equality issue very seriously. There is no discrimination at any part of the development and implementation of the project.
Affordability:
Our product would be more affordable in terms of price than the existing alternatives, thus it would contribute to the affordability of sustainable fashion items.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
BATWATEX is a perfect example of sustainability, aesthetics and affordability combined together, as each of these dimensions is an integral part of the project. We cannot take our the environmental dimension from our material, since the whole idea to create BATWATEX came out of the need for a sustainable solution. Likewise, we cannot imagine our material being less affordable, as it is one of the main problems that we have identified in existing solution and that is tackled by our material. Finally, the co-existence of aesthetics and function is what differs our product visually and functionally from other solutions. Hence, if any of those dimensions would be taken away, it would be a completely different project.
