Finland's VTT Pioneers Scalable Mycelium Leather Process

Finnish researchers developed a fermentation method to produce mycelium leather at scale, cutting animal leather's environmental cost while addressing key durability hurdles.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has engineered a pulp-based fermentation process using *Trichoderma reesei* fungus to manufacture mycelium leather in large quantities. The method—backed by Business Finland and the Research Council of Finland—incorporates sorbitol and cellulose to boost flexibility and strength, with lab tests showing tensile strength matching conventional leather. Crucially, this approach achieves environmental gains: animal leather production emits 110kg of CO2e per square meter versus 15.8kg for synthetic alternatives. The prototype handbag demonstrates functional viability, while mycelium leather decomposes in 28 days in water and 6 weeks under industrial composting. However, tear resistance remains a hurdle for consumer adoption, and tensile strength comparisons don't account for other material properties. Decomposition rates also depend on environmental conditions. This scalable method directly tackles the industry's historical limitations in mycelium leather production, offering a path to significantly reduce the ecological footprint of leather without sacrificing core functionality. The next phase requires refining tear resistance before widespread use, but the project establishes a viable foundation for affordable, low-impact leather alternatives. The source confirms the research was published in *ACS Applied Bio Materials* on August 19, 2026.

Source: Green Queen