In a bid to launch greener methods of the production of leather, a team from Tufts University in Massachusetts have found silk to be a potential catalyst for this according to an article on New Atlas.

Through research and 3D printing methods, the team of engineers have been able to transform the material of silk into a replicated version of leather.

To achieve this, they mixed silk fibres into a slurry before adding ingredients such as a vegetable gum thickener and a plasticiser. Further ingredients such as chitosan were also added to bolster the material’s strength. 

In addition, it has the capability to be stitched and folded to form accessories akin to normal leather accessories, which the team displayed by creating a purse. With regards to the 3D printing production method, this enables any desired patterns or textures in the material to be altered.

“Our work is centered on the use of naturally-derived materials that minimize the use of toxic chemicals while maintaining material performance so as to provide alternatives for products that are commonly and widely used today,” says Fiorenzo Omenetto, who is an author of the study.

“By using silk, as well as cellulose from textile and agricultural waste and chitosan from shellfish waste, and all the relatively gentle chemistries used to combine them, we are making progress towards this goal.”

Looking forward, Fiorenzo and the team will be testing other methods in which leather could be produced.