Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements

Textile and fashion industry is one of the most polluting industrial sectors in the world, responsible for high greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. Leather tanning is a non-eco-friendly process, which consumes large amounts of water and energy while potentially releasing heavy metals a...

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Main Authors: Benetti Beatrice, Conti Fosca, Dimitriadis Piet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental and Climate Technologies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0026
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author Benetti Beatrice
Conti Fosca
Dimitriadis Piet
author_facet Benetti Beatrice
Conti Fosca
Dimitriadis Piet
author_sort Benetti Beatrice
collection DOAJ
description Textile and fashion industry is one of the most polluting industrial sectors in the world, responsible for high greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. Leather tanning is a non-eco-friendly process, which consumes large amounts of water and energy while potentially releasing heavy metals and toxic compounds into the environment. Although synthetic leather offers simplified production processes, it is derived from fossil fuels and is non-biodegradable, raising further environmental concerns. Filamentous fungi, with their ability to form leather-like biomaterials through controlled fermentation, represent a promising and sustainable alternative. Critical parameters like fungi species selection, nutrient composition, growth conditions and treatment techniques are analysed. Distinct types of post-processing treatments that can enhance mechanical performance, durability, and water resistance are discussed highlighting the potential of mycelium-based materials as a sustainable alternative to conventional leather.
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series Environmental and Climate Technologies
spelling doaj-art-53c100c00a5142dc9d54fbb17d20ad852025-08-25T06:12:10ZengSciendoEnvironmental and Climate Technologies2255-88372025-01-0129139040410.2478/rtuect-2025-0026Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material EnhancementsBenetti Beatrice0Conti Fosca1Dimitriadis Piet21Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy2Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy3Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050, Brussels, BelgiumTextile and fashion industry is one of the most polluting industrial sectors in the world, responsible for high greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. Leather tanning is a non-eco-friendly process, which consumes large amounts of water and energy while potentially releasing heavy metals and toxic compounds into the environment. Although synthetic leather offers simplified production processes, it is derived from fossil fuels and is non-biodegradable, raising further environmental concerns. Filamentous fungi, with their ability to form leather-like biomaterials through controlled fermentation, represent a promising and sustainable alternative. Critical parameters like fungi species selection, nutrient composition, growth conditions and treatment techniques are analysed. Distinct types of post-processing treatments that can enhance mechanical performance, durability, and water resistance are discussed highlighting the potential of mycelium-based materials as a sustainable alternative to conventional leather.https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0026biomaterialsfilamentous fungifungal biotechnologyleatherleather-like materialssustainable fashiontanningtextile
spellingShingle Benetti Beatrice
Conti Fosca
Dimitriadis Piet
Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements
Environmental and Climate Technologies
biomaterials
filamentous fungi
fungal biotechnology
leather
leather-like materials
sustainable fashion
tanning
textile
title Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements
title_full Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements
title_fullStr Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements
title_full_unstemmed Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements
title_short Mycelium-Based Leather: A Review on Post-Processing Treatments and Material Enhancements
title_sort mycelium based leather a review on post processing treatments and material enhancements
topic biomaterials
filamentous fungi
fungal biotechnology
leather
leather-like materials
sustainable fashion
tanning
textile
url https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0026
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AT contifosca myceliumbasedleatherareviewonpostprocessingtreatmentsandmaterialenhancements
AT dimitriadispiet myceliumbasedleatherareviewonpostprocessingtreatmentsandmaterialenhancements