Beyond Leather Materials
Beyond Leather Materials ApS, founded in Copenhagen in 2017, produces Leap® — a next-generation biobased leather alternative made from upcycled apple waste — selling it direct to B2B customers in the furniture and fashion accessories markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Beyond Leather Materials does
Beyond Leather Materials ApS is a Copenhagen-based materials science company that produces Leap®, a next-generation biobased leather alternative manufactured primarily in Germany. The company was founded in 2017 as a university project and commercialized after a €1.1M seed round in 2020. Leap is a roll-to-roll produced, three-layer material: a partly bio-based finishing coating, an apple-waste blend that upcycles pomace from juice and cider production with natural rubber, and a textile backing of either TENCEL™ Lyocell or 100% recycled polyester. Each square meter uses approximately 1.8 kg of apple pulp, and the product is certified to 91% USDA biobased content with a Cradle-to-Gate carbon footprint under 6.51 kg CO2e/m².
The product portfolio comprises three variants — Original (standard thickness, Lyocell-backed), Flex (high-elongation, recycled-polyester-backed), and Plus (intermediate performance) — supplemented by a €9 sample box sold without minimum order quantity. Beyond Leather sells direct to registered businesses only, with no resellers or retail storefronts. Standard meters price between €57.90 and €61.90 per linear meter, and customized versions are quote-based with MOQ. Distribution runs through the company's e-commerce site (explore-leap.com), physical material libraries across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and a manufacturing partnership with Veshin Factory (Brazil, Colombia, China, Italy). Reported annual production capacity exceeds 100,000 m² across Denmark and Germany, though actual realized volumes are not disclosed.
The customer base is concentrated in two verticals: furniture and upholstery (TAKT, Vermund, HolmrisB8, Mutebox, F-Yachting) and fashion bags and small leather goods (Lubay, Lefance, Anna Valloire, Fleurgrain, BurggrafBurggraf), with automotive interiors identified as an upcoming target segment. The company holds a dense certification stack — USDA Biobased, Vegan Society, IMO-8, BS0/BS1, California 117, EU Ecolabel, REACH — and reports having contacted over 3,000 potential customers as of 2024. Founder Mikael Eydt leads the company as Co-Founder and CEO alongside co-founder Hannah Michaud, with a headcount of 1–10.
Beyond Leather Materials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Beyond Leather Materials
- Legal name
- Beyond Leather Materials ApS
- Website
- https://explore-leap.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Beyond Leather Materials ApS, founded in Copenhagen in 2017, produces Leap® — a next-generation biobased leather alternative made from upcycled apple waste — selling it direct to B2B customers in the furniture and fashion accessories markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Beyond Leather Materials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biobased Leather Alternative
- NAICS
- Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316)
- SIC
- Leather & Leather Products (3100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium) (IMAOAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Leather, Suede & Alternatives (PU/Bio-based) (CRAAAMAG)
Keywords
Where Beyond Leather Materials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Copenhagen
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Beyond Leather Materials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Leap Material Sales: Beyond Leather generates revenue by selling Leap material directly to registered business customers. Products are sold in linear meters (with a usable width of ~1.45m) from 1 meter with no MOQ for standard variations, and in full rolls (1.5m wide x 25m long). Customized versions carry a minimum order quantity (MOQ) with varying pricing. Sample boxes are also sold at €9.00 excluding VAT. The company sells directly from its website to businesses worldwide, with lead times of 1–2 weeks for linear meters and 2–6 weeks for rolls.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample Box — Leap Standard Colors |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Leap Flex Freeport — 0.9mm, 100% recycled Polyester backing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Leap Original Reno — 1.1mm with TENCEL™ Lyocell backing |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bulk / Custom Orders — quote-based |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Beyond Leather Materials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Beyond Leather Materials produces and sells Leap, a biobased leather alternative manufactured principally from upcycled apple waste (pomace) sourced from Danish and European juice and cider producers. The material is offered in three product variants — Leap Original (TENCEL™ Lyocell backing, ~1.1mm), Leap Plus, and Leap Flex (100% recycled polyester backing, 0.9mm) — and is sold in sample boxes (~10x15cm, €9.00), by the linear meter (~1.45m usable width, from €57.90/m with no MOQ for standard variations), and in full rolls (1.5m wide × 25m) to registered B2B customers in furniture, fashion accessories, and maritime interiors, with roll-to-roll production sited in Germany.
Product overview
Beyond Leather Materials offers Leap®, a single unified next-generation biobased leather alternative product line made from upcycled apple waste, produced in Germany. The product is available in three variants: Original (standard thickness with TENCEL™ backing), Flex (high-elongation for upholstery with recycled polyester backing), and Plus (intermediate performance tier). The company sells material by the linear meter or in sample boxes, serving furniture, small leather goods, and accessories brands. Production occurs in 1.5m wide rolls at 100,000 m²/year capacity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Leap Original: Standard Leap material variant with approximately 1.1mm thickness, available with TENCEL Lyocell backing.
- Leap Plus
- Leap Flex
Products and services
- Leap Original Flagship biobased leather alternative made from upcycled apple waste, available in standard ~1.1mm thickness with TENCEL™ Lyocell textile backing. Offered in Reno (soft matte finish) and Black Garda (pebbled, semi-gloss) texture variants; priced at €61.90 per linear meter excluding VAT for Leap Original Reno, with no MOQ for the standard version. Targets B2B customers in fashion accessories and furniture upholstery.
- Leap Flex High-elongation Leap variant built around a 100% recycled polyester textile backing for maximum stretch, supplied at ~0.9mm thickness and engineered for tight curves and complex stitching. Available in Black and Burgundy at €57.90 per linear meter excluding VAT with no MOQ for standard versions; optimized for upholstery, acoustic furniture, and yacht interiors.
- Leap Plus Intermediate Leap product variant designed for applications requiring enhanced performance characteristics between Original and Flex, targeting furniture and upholstery applications where standard thickness is insufficient but Flex-grade elongation is not required.
- Leap Sample Box Boxed selection of approximately 10x15cm Leap samples in standard colors (~1.1mm thickness, ~900 gsm, Soft Embossing texture, with TENCEL™ Lyocell backing), priced at €9.00 EUR excluding VAT and shipping. Designed to let fashion and furniture brands feel, stretch, and compare textures before placing linear-meter or roll orders.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% less CO₂ emissions vs. traditional leather production (internal calculations)
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Beyond Leather Materials
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Beyond Leather Materials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Beyond Leather Materials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Veshin FactorycoreBeyond Leather and Veshin Factory formed a strategic partnership to make Leap more accessible to brands across multiple markets. Veshin is a leader in conscious design and manufacturing specializing in next-gen material alternatives. With operations in Brazil, Columbia, China, and Italy (4 global locations), Veshin helps brands transition from animal or synthetic leather to Leap. The partnership enables customers to reduce time and costs when working with Leap across different geographies. Beyond Leather CEO Mikael Eydt called it 'the most progressive manufacturer in the next-gen materials world.'
- TENCEL™ / Lenzing AGsupportingLenzing AG's TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers are used as the textile backing in Leap Original and Reno product lines. TENCEL™ is produced using the lyocell method with 99% solvent recovery, making it an eco-friendly option. The trademark is owned by Lenzing AG.
- EurofinssupportingEurofins provides independent laboratory testing and validation for Leap's material performance properties including durability, colorfastness, and technical specifications.
- CATASsupportingCATAS provides independent laboratory validation for Leap's furniture applications, testing abrasion resistance, flex endurance, and colorfastness for furniture sector requirements.
- InterteksupportingIntertek provides independent testing and validation for Leap's material properties, including fire safety and performance standards across furniture and SLG applications.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Beyond Leather Materials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ananas Anam (Piñatex): Ananas Anam makes Piñatex, a plant-based (pineapple leaf fiber) leather alternative sold B2B to fashion and upholstery brands. Direct peer to Beyond Leather Materials: both operate plant-waste upcycling into roll-form leather alternatives with similar B2B GTM through material libraries and direct-to-brand sales.
- Adriano Di Marti (Desserto): Desserto produces cactus-based bio-leather alternatives for fashion, automotive, and upholstery. Direct competitor to Beyond Leather in the plant-based, non-mycelium alternative leather category, selling roll-form material to global brands with comparable sustainability and performance positioning.
- Bolt Threads (Mylo): Bolt Threads developed Mylo, a mycelium-based leather alternative, and partners with brands like Stella McCartney, Adidas, and Lululemon. Direct peer to Beyond Leather in the next-gen biobased leather space with a B2B materials model and global brand partnerships.
Emerging players
- Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow develops bio-based protein materials (incl. Bio-Alloy and formerly biofabricated leather) for fashion and automotive applications. Emerging peer with partial product overlap: focuses on biotech-derived rather than plant-waste upcycling, but competes in the same B2B material slot.
- Natural Fiber Welding (NFW): NFW produces plant-based, plastic-free Mirum and Clarus alternatives for footwear, apparel, automotive, and upholstery. Emerging peer in next-gen leather alternatives with similar B2B sales to brands and focus on plastic-free, biobased positioning that rivals Beyond Leather's narrative.
- Ecovative (Forager / Mylo consortium partner): Ecovative's Forager business develops mycelium-based materials for fashion and packaging end-uses, and is a partner in the Mylo consortium. Emerging peer in the bio-leather category with overlapping B2B brand partnerships (e.g., Stella McCartney) that compete with Beyond Leather's furniture and SLG designer pipeline.
- TômTex: TômTex develops non-leather, biobased material alternatives using chitosan from shellfish waste and other plant inputs for fashion and accessories. Emerging peer targeting the same vegan/plant-based designer-adoption channel as Beyond Leather.
Regional players
- Elcamino (formerly Eleather): Eleather (now rebranded Elcamino Made) produces recycled-leather and sustainable alternative materials for footwear and fashion. Regional peer in Europe serving similar fashion/furniture brands with alternative-to-leather materials on a smaller scale.
Others
- Spinnova / Suzano (Woodspire): Spinnova produces next-gen textile fibers from wood and waste streams for apparel and home textiles. Adjacent enabling/ecosystem player rather than direct competitor; both companies tap agricultural/industrial waste streams to displace leather/cotton incumbents.
- Material Innovation Initiative (MII): MII is a non-profit accelerator and coalition advancing next-gen materials (including Beyond Leather) in fashion and leather applications. Ecosystem enabler/distribution partner — Beyond Leather samples are stocked at MII's material library in Napa — rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Beyond Leather Materials social profiles
Digital presenceBeyond Leather Materials compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Beyond Leather Materials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Beyond Leather Materials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Beyond Leather Materials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Beyond Leather Materials M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Beyond Leather Materials
What does Beyond Leather Materials do?
Beyond Leather Materials produces and sells Leap, a biobased leather alternative manufactured principally from upcycled apple waste (pomace) sourced from Danish and European juice and cider producers. The material is offered in three product variants — Leap Original (TENCEL™ Lyocell backing, ~1.1mm), Leap Plus, and Leap Flex (100% recycled polyester backing, 0.9mm) — and is sold in sample boxes (~10x15cm, €9.00), by the linear meter (~1.45m usable width, from €57.90/m with no MOQ for standard variations), and in full rolls (1.5m wide × 25m) to registered B2B customers in furniture, fashion accessories, and maritime interiors, with roll-to-roll production sited in Germany.
Is Beyond Leather Materials a public or private company?
Beyond Leather Materials is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Beyond Leather Materials founded?
Beyond Leather Materials was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Beyond Leather Materials based?
Beyond Leather Materials is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Beyond Leather Materials make money?
One revenue line is on record: leap Material Sales.
Who are Beyond Leather Materials's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ananas Anam (Piñatex), Adriano Di Marti (Desserto) and Bolt Threads (Mylo). Emerging players are Modern Meadow, Natural Fiber Welding (NFW), Ecovative (Forager / Mylo consortium partner) and TômTex. Elcamino (formerly Eleather) is listed as a regional player. Others are Spinnova / Suzano (Woodspire) and Material Innovation Initiative (MII).
Does Beyond Leather Materials have an API?
No public API is recorded for Beyond Leather Materials.
What industry is Beyond Leather Materials in?
Beyond Leather Materials's product category is Biobased Leather Alternative. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAHAH, Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium), with a secondary code of CRAAAMAG, Leather, Suede & Alternatives (PU/Bio-based). Its NAICS code is 316 and its SIC code is 3100.