Students turn food waste into Fruitleather

Six students from Willem de Kooning Academie, a Dutch design school, just developed a method that transforms rotten fruit, that would otherwise go to waste into an eco-friendly leather. Called Fruitleather Rotterdam, the project produces a textile material that can be used in the production of stylish accessories such as handbags and wallets, and even car seats.

The idea came up when the group of students visited a street market in Binnerotte Square and was shocked by the amount of fruit that were thrown away at the end of the day. Willing to solve this huge environmental problem with the help of design, students collected a lot of mangoes, oranges and apples, among other fruits, to manufacture Fruitleather Rotterdam – and it was a complete success!

The creators don’t reveal much about the process of transforming rotting fruit into the ecological leather, but ensure that they intend to invest heavily in the project. According to the UN, every year, a third of the food produced globally is wasted and ends up in the trash.

So, there’s a tremendous opportunity for business, right?