During the recent Klimaty Market in Gdańsk, we had the pleasure not only to present our products but also to speak with many visitors encountering plant-based leather for the first time. And almost every conversation started the same way: with surprise, curiosity – and a bit of disbelief.
So in this post, we’d like to answer the most frequent questions, share our materials, and show why leather doesn’t have to come from animals.
“Wait, this isn’t leather?” – first impressions
People picked up our bags and paused.
– “Feels like leather…”
– “It is. But it’s plant-based.”
– “Seriously?!”
Some guessed it was paper, others were stunned by the elegant look and feel. And many started asking detailed questions – which we loved!
So what are your bags made of?
We use three main sustainable materials:
✅ Viridis® – leather made from corn and wheat
Our signature material: flexible, durable, and beautifully crafted.
- Made from bio-based polyols sourced from GMO-free, non-food European corn and wheat,
- Contains up to 69% plant-based raw materials,
- Only 31% conventional PU,
- Backed with FSC®-certified viscose from well-managed forests,
- Certified: USDA BioPreferred, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, FSC®,
- Coagulated, not extruded – for better performance and structure.
“What makes Viridis® so special is that it contains up to 69 percent of plant-based raw materials. This is unconventional in an industry where most materials come from fossil fuels which are excessively polluting our planet.”
(source: viridisskin.com)
Viridis® is not biodegradable, but it is not oil-based – and that makes a big difference for the planet.
✅ Grape leather
Made from leftovers of the wine industry – grape skins, seeds, and stalks. A soft, fluid texture – perfect for city shopper bags.
✅ Washpapa (durable paper-like material)
Water-resistant, light and flexible – great for our lunch bags and laptop sleeves.
Many visitors were surprised by how sturdy and beautiful this “paper” can be.
Will it last? Is it durable?
This came up often – so we brought our own bags, used for 3–4 years.
And they’re still in great shape: no cracks, color intact, structure stable. Seeing them often changed people’s minds.
Which part of the corn is used?
Great question.
Viridis® uses polyols, a type of compound extracted from corn and wheat by-products – not edible parts. That’s part of what makes it sustainable.
Can it be cleaned with water?
Yes!
Especially our lunch bags and laptop sleeves made from Washpapa – they can be safely wiped down or rinsed with water. Just don’t machine-wash them.
Is every vegan bag sustainable?
No. Sadly, many “vegan” bags are made from 100% fossil-fuel plastics. At Plant Inside, we focus on plant-based, certified, EU-sourced materials, combined with local production in Poland.
For us, sustainability is more than just avoiding leather – it’s about doing things responsibly, every step of the way.
What happened after the event?
A few days later, we got a call from a visitor – Ms. Joanna, who had fallen in love with our new brown corn leather shopper. She asked if she could buy it early.
We said yes – and she was thrilled.
That very bag now has a new home, and we’re launching the first small production batch. These moments mean the world to us.
Got a question?
Reach out via Instagram: @plantinside_design – we’d love to hear from you.
Your Plant Inside Team