The Mission

Crustico’s mission is to tackle food waste and the environmental footprint of the traditional leather industry by creating a new type of bio-leather made out of discarded bread and cellulose extracted from plant waste. The project would use everyday waste to create a biodegradable bio-leather aiming to give waste a second life, closing the loop between food waste and sustainable products.

The Challenge

Leather production contributes largely to deforestation, water waste, greenhouse gas emissions and animal exploitation and while alternative cruelty-free leathers might sound like a good option, they rely heavily on plastics that are non-biodegradable. At the same time, there’s a lot of bread and bakery waste that is discarded daily which represents one of the largest categories of food waste globally.

The solution

Crustico proposes the conversion of discarded bread, starch, glycerol and extracted cellulose into a biodegradable bio-leather which is plastic-free, cruelty-free and also compostable. This offers a sustainable alternative for industries that are relying on materials that harm the environment. Our approach not only reduces waste streams but demonstrates a circular economy model where food waste can become a valuable product.