Allbirds launches plastic-free Plant Leather with Natural Fiber Welding investment

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 26, 2021

Ethical footwear brand Allbirds has invested $2 million into a material innovation firm, Natural Fiber Welding, and the result is what it claims to be the world’s most sustainable leather alternative for the fashion industry.

The company is known for its sustainable materials such as fabrics made from renewable eucalyptus trees and shoe soles from sugarcane. Now its latest green solution is based on Natural Fiber Welding’s Mirum technology for the first 100% natural plant-based ‘leather’.

As well as the obvious benefits this brings in terms of animal welfare, the company said it has 40 times less carbon impact than leather and 17 times less carbon than synthetic leather made from plastic.

The Plant Leather is made using vegetable oil, natural rubber and other bio-ingredients, and Allbirds said that it's also very scalable.

“For too long, fashion companies have relied on dirty synthetics and unsustainable leather, prioritising speed and cost over the environment,” said Joey Zwillinger, co-founder and co-CEO of Allbirds.

“Natural Fiber Welding is creating scalable, sustainable antidotes to leather, and doing so with the potential for a game-changing 98% reduction in carbon emissions. Our partnership with NFW and planned introduction of Plant Leather based on their technology is an exciting step on our journey to eradicate petroleum from the fashion industry.”