A year after announcing their partnership, Sappi North America and Biophilica have taken their plastic free leather alternative from concept to reality. The material, now commercially available, marks a significant step from innovation to market-ready product.
Marketed under the name Treekind®, the product is made from wood-based fibers and other forest-derived biomaterials. Unlike most “plant-based” or synthetic leather substitutes, it contains no plastic polymers, making it fully bio-based, home compostable, and vegan certified.
Sappi contributes its expertise in release papers and surface-engineering technologies key to creating the leather-like texture, grain, and depth that set Treekind apart. This addresses one of the toughest challenges in the alternative-leather market, where achieving both appealing aesthetics and convincing tactile quality has often limited adoption.
The collaboration has already advanced beyond lab testing. Pilot runs and small commercial trials have been completed, with early evaluations in accessories, fashion, and consumer goods. Feedback from brand partners points to promising technical performance in real-world use.
The project is now focused on scaling up broadening surface finishes, refining material characteristics, and gradually ramping up output to meet growing brand demand. For Sappi, the initiative supports its strategy to expand forest-based innovation into higher value, non paper applications. For Biophilica, it marks an important step in transforming materials science into a commercial business.
As more brands look to cut plastics and lower their environmental footprint, Treekind stands out as a credible, fiber-based alternative to synthetic leather one ready for the market, not just the lab.
Sappi North America is a U.S. based producer of paper, pulp and specialty materials, and part of the global Sappi Group, focused on high value, renewable fiber-based solutions.
Biophilica is a London-based biotechnology company creating 100% biobased material solutions for the fashion, footwear, packaging, furniture, homeware and automotive industries.
