Australian design studio Other Matter has introduced a leather alternative made entirely by recycling its own single-use bioplastic signage waste.
Named Other Matter Leather, the upholstery material made its European debut at the Latitude group exhibition during the ‘3 Days of Design event’ in Copenhagen.
The material establishes a circular recycling loop for the studio’s primary product, OM Signage Film.
Originally launched as a petrochemical-free alternative to traditional PVC vinyl decals and exhibition wall texts, the original film is an algae-based bioplastic utilised by institutions including the MoMA and the Australian Open.
Although non-toxic, the film functions primarily as a single-use product, prompting studio founder Jessie French to develop a system to repurpose the decommissioned waste material.
The manufacturing process occurs at Other Matter’s Melbourne studio using small-batch production methods. Technicians boil the returned algae film in water to break it down, mixing the substance with charcoal.
The charcoal provides a uniform dark colouration and introduces a gritty texture that replicates the tactile feel of animal leather.
Small bubbles generated naturally during the curing phase create a subtle grain on the surface, mimicking the flexibility and appearance of traditional hides.
To prepare for commercial scaling, Other Matter collaborated with the CSIRO, Australia’s national scientific research agency, to design a high-volume manufacturing framework modelled after thin-sheet material mass production.
The first commercial applications of the bio-leather feature on a reproduced seating collection by furniture brand Made by Morgen, which previously relied on conventional leather upholstery.
In addition, skincare brand Aesop has collaborated with the studio to feature installations made from the foundational signage film at its Nyhavn and Kronprinsensgade retail locations.
