Ultrasuede® non-woven suede microfiber leather continues to increase plant-based content

With its unique texture, durability and sustainability, Ultrasuede® has been used in a wide range of industries. From cars and furniture to fashion and footwear, parent company Toray works with a variety of creatives and last year shared stories to illustrate the five key values ​​the brand has cultivated over the past 50 years.

Toray became the world’s first manufacturer of plant-based non-woven suede microfiber leather materials in 2015, and the next phase of its Ultrasuede® journey includes the adoption of an increasing number of plant-based polymers . Today, around 30% of plant-based polyesters and polyurethanes are used in the production of Ultrasuede®, which is the highest proportion of plant-based raw materials for this type of material in mass production.

More specifically, polyester is polymerized from ethylene glycol made from sugar cane waste molasses, while polyurethane is composed of polyols made from castor oil, which is inedible. In the process, Toray found that oil usage per square meter of microfiber leather was reduced by 0.66 liters, in line with the company’s goals to contribute to a non-oil-dependent society, improve supply chain stability and ensure consistency with traditional raw materials Compared to, achieve equivalent or better performance.

Ultrasuede® has attracted interest from various industries and demonstrated its versatility, with Toray not only partnering with automakers such as Lexus and NIO, but also entering the aviation sector through a partnership with All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA).

The Lexus RZ is the first production vehicle to use this new 30% plant-based Ultrasuede® with its seats. The collaboration began with the carmaker’s sustainability project “NEXT
CHAPTER”, the project looks at the next generation of car manufacturing. Its aim is to live in harmony with nature and the environment, and Ultrasuede® is considered the material that meets the needs of car manufacturers.

A clean, minimalist space with few obstructions to the view creates an atmosphere of freedom and relaxation. That’s what designers tried to create in the new Lexus RZ. Ultrasuede® was chosen as an integral material to make the interior of the vehicle feel more comfortable and luxurious.

Following the requirement for more environmentally friendly materials for the interiors of EC6 and ES6, NIO has adopted Ultrasuede®, which contains about 20% plant-based materials, and used it for the roof lining, sun visors and pillars of EC6 and ES6. Toray aims to position itself as a key material supplier for next-generation electric vehicles, supporting the trend of minimalist spaces that feel more like second living rooms.

Leveraging its latest technology, Toray has developed Ultrasuede® using 100% plant-based polyester. While this could theoretically be used for mass production, the current supply chain is not yet capable of supporting such volumes – Toray aims to start mass production in the late 2020s. All told, the total plant-based ratio of the new Ultrasuede® under development is approximately 64%, making it its highest plant-based product to date. Importantly, it does this while continuing to provide the look and feel of real leather.

Ultrasuede®, which uses 100% plant-based polyester, will be used in the aircraft industry for the first time, demonstrating the high expectations of air passengers for this material. Specifically, the material will be used in ANA Green
Jet headrest cover. The products and materials used in these aircraft are all sustainable and the decision was made to use Ultrasuede® as it is considered an environmentally friendly material that combines luxurious texture, design and high functionality.

For example, ANA President Shinichi Inoue even described the material as feeling like real leather. “The texture, the feel, it’s hard to believe it’s made from sustainable materials derived from plants.”
In fact, there are a variety of sustainable materials on the market today, but not all of them offer the necessary visual or tactile qualities.

Toray concluded: “Ultrasuede® transcends materials, it touches people’s hearts and enhances their lifestyles. Through continuous technological innovation, we hope to provide temperature-friendly technology at all times and reduce the use of fossil resources by Use to achieve a sustainable society.”