A look at innovations that are already real today – and what might come next
Ten years ago, "vegan leather" mostly meant one thing: PU or PVC.
Today, that picture looks different. Mushrooms, cactus pads, apple pomace, pineapple leaves – the list of raw materials being turned into leather-like materials keeps growing.
This article takes an honest look at these innovations: what's already on the market, what's promising but not yet fully mature – and where the industry is heading.
Quick Answer: Where Are Vegan Materials Heading?
The next generation of vegan materials increasingly relies on agricultural byproducts and bio-based processes instead of pure petroleum. The trend is shifting away from "leather substitutes" toward standalone materials with their own identity.
What's Changing Right Now
The first generation of vegan leather alternatives was mostly about one thing: a response to animal cruelty. PU and PVC replaced animal hide – but remained fully fossil-based.
The current development goes further. It's no longer just about not using an animal. It's about finding better raw materials – renewable, regional, often made from byproducts that would otherwise have no value.
Three trends are shaping this shift:
1. Byproduct-based materials. Instead of growing new raw materials, many new materials use what's left over from other processes – grape skins, apple pomace, pineapple leaves.
2. Regional production. Many innovations emerge where the raw materials are produced – apple waste in South Tyrol, cactus in Mexico, mycelium in Europe.
3. Transparent certification. New materials increasingly communicate openly about composition and production – a counter-trend to vague "eco leather" promises.
Materials Already on the Market
|
Material |
Base |
Origin |
Notable Feature |
|
Piñatex® |
Pineapple leaf fibers |
Philippines |
Agricultural byproduct |
|
Desserto® |
Nopal cactus |
Mexico |
Drought-resistant crop, low water use |
|
AppleSkin™ |
Apple pomace |
South Tyrol |
Byproduct of juice production |
|
Mylo™ |
Mycelium |
USA — production paused since 2023 |
Grows in weeks, no livestock needed |
|
Nutico™ |
Cocoa husks & walnut shells |
Poland |
Biodegradable, 0% water use, smells like chocolate |
|
Viridis® |
Corn & wheat |
Italy/Europe |
Up to 69% bio-based, used by Plant Inside |
|
Vegea® |
Grape pomace |
Italy |
Circular, from wine production, used by Plant Inside |
Each of these materials has its own profile – different texture, different durability, different stage of technological maturity.
🌱 Did you know? Mycelium-based materials were long considered one of the industry's most promising innovations. But even well-funded projects aren't immune to setbacks: US company Bolt Threads, which raised over $300 million for its Mylo™ mushroom-based material and partnered with brands like Stella McCartney and Adidas, was forced to pause production in 2023 due to funding shortfalls. A reminder of how volatile the market for emerging materials still is – and why proven, already-scaled materials like Viridis® or Vegea® remain the more reliable choice for us. (Source: Vogue Business / Bolt Threads, 2023)
What's Promising – But Still Faces Challenges
Not every innovation is mass-market ready yet. Three honest limitations:
Scalability. Many of these materials are still produced in limited quantities. Broad market availability takes time and investment.
Long-term performance. While Viridis® and Vegea® already have several years of real-world testing behind them, newer materials like Mylo™ still lack comprehensive long-term data on everyday durability.
The binder question. Almost all plant-based leather alternatives require some amount of binding agents to ensure stability and flexibility. Fully bio-based materials with zero polymer content are still the exception, not the rule.
These limitations aren't a reason for skepticism – they're part of an honest assessment. Innovation happens in steps, not overnight.
A Polish Innovation: Nutico™
Sometimes innovation is closer than you'd expect.
About two years ago, the Polish start-up Bio2Materials, based in Warsaw, reached out to us with an unusual new material: Nutico™, made from cocoa husks and walnut shells – two byproducts of chocolate production.
The material is fully biodegradable, contains no PU or PVC, requires zero water in production – and genuinely carries a faint chocolate scent.
After our initial conversation, contact faded. It was only months later that we spotted a Nutico™ flyer on the table at our leather workshop in Malbork – someone was already working with the material. A small moment that shows just how connected, and how local, this innovation scene really is.
In 2026, Bio2Materials announced that Nutico™ was now ready for scaling, following its presentation at Première Vision in Paris, one of the most important international trade fairs for textile innovation. Whether it becomes an established material option remains to be seen – but it's a reminder that promising innovation doesn't only happen in California or Milan. Sometimes it's right on our doorstep.
How Plant Inside Approaches New Materials
We don't test every trend. But we stay attentive.
In December 2025, we used Vegea® for the first time in our Shopper Bag in Black Matt – after thoroughly evaluating its texture, workability and long-term potential. The material proved itself and has been a permanent part of our range ever since.
That's how we approach new materials: not for marketing reasons, but because we're convinced they meet our standards for quality and durability.
Learn more about the materials we currently work with in our guide What Is Vegan Leather?
Why This Development Matters
The growing variety of new materials means, above all, one thing: more options, fewer compromises.
Instead of having to choose between "animal leather" and "plastic substitute," a third category is emerging – materials that are neither one nor the other, but something of their own.
That matters because it shows: vegan fashion doesn't have to be a compromise. It can be its own evolving material category, with its own strengths.
FAQ
What's the newest vegan material on the market?
There's no single "newest" innovation – the industry is developing in several directions at once, and not every promising development makes it to market readiness. Mycelium-based materials, for example, were long seen as a frontrunner, but even a well-funded project like Mylo™ had to pause in 2023. Companies like MycoWorks and Ecovative continue working in this material category – whether and when that leads to market-ready products remains to be seen.
Are these new materials already available in products?
Some are, to a limited extent – Piñatex®, for example, is used in shoes and accessories by individual brands. Others, like certain mushroom-based materials, are still in earlier market stages.
What material does Plant Inside currently use?
We work with Viridis® (made from corn and wheat) and Vegea® (made from grape pomace) – both with several years of real-world testing and independent certifications behind them.
Is mushroom leather better than plant-based leather from corn or grapes?
Not inherently better or worse – just different. Each material has its own property profile. Mushroom-based materials are promising in terms of growth speed, but still have less long-term data than established materials.
Will fully binder-free vegan leather be possible in the future?
Research is ongoing, but most materials currently require some polymer content for stability. Fully binder-free solutions aren't market-ready yet.
Are there any Polish innovations in vegan materials?
Yes. The Warsaw-based start-up Bio2Materials developed Nutico™, a biodegradable material made from cocoa husks and walnut shells – entirely free of PU and PVC. As of 2026, the material is ready for scaling. A reminder that material innovation doesn't only happen in established international hubs.
An Industry in Transition
The future of vegan materials isn't a single invention that changes everything. It's a steady evolution – more raw material sources, better processes, more honest communication.
And sometimes that progress happens closer to home than expected – as the example of Nutico™ from Warsaw shows.
At Plant Inside, we follow this development with curiosity, not urgency. Every material we use has proven itself before becoming part of our collection.
This isn't a trend we're chasing. It's a standard we hold.
Discover the materials we already use today in our vegan bag collection.
Updated: June 2026