At the recent Freiberge International Leather Day event, researchers presented the latest findings on alternative materials for automotive interiors. This study focused on the performance and lifecycle potential of these alternatives, exploring key indicators such as durability and biodegradability.
Researchers pointed out that the key drivers of material innovation come from two aspects: firstly, the continued growth in consumer demand for sustainable, non-petrochemical materials; and secondly, the constraints of new EU legislation. The European Ecodesign Regulation, which will come into effect in mid-2024, clearly stipulates that all products sold in the EU market must meet stricter standards related to durability, recyclability, and environmental claims.
This research is reportedly a follow-up to the 2021 project "Comparative Analysis of the Technical Performance of Leather, Synthetic Leather, and Fashion Alternatives." The study selected a diverse range of material samples for comparative analysis, including genuine automotive leather as a benchmark, as well as alternatives such as mycelial materials, PU-coated textiles, regenerated cellulose containing bio-fillers, laminated leather, and various "new leather" materials.
The study evaluated material performance through a series of standardized mechanical tests, including key indicators such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and flexural endurance. Results showed that traditional automotive leather, characterized by its interwoven collagen fiber structure, performed exceptionally well in all physical performance tests. In contrast, many alternative materials, especially those with foam or laminated structures, exhibited surface cracking in the flexural endurance test, a problem exacerbated by high temperature and humidity. In tensile tests, mycelium-based materials and regenerated leather showed significantly lower performance than genuine leather. While some coated materials achieved moderate strength, they exhibited significant shortcomings in elongation and durability.
In the biodegradability analysis, researchers found under industrial composting conditions that natural materials generally decompose more easily, while synthetic coated materials were generally difficult to degrade. The study also confirmed that although new-generation alternative materials are gradually approaching genuine leather in terms of visual and tactile experience, significant gaps remain in physical performance.
Researchers emphasized that as the variety of leather alternatives continues to increase, the promotion of these materials must be approached with rigor. Strict standardized testing and scientific evidence to demonstrate their sustainability are essential to avoid misleading promotion.
