Sustainable Composites

Based in Pennsylvania, Sustainable Composites uses a patented recycling process to manufacture “Enspire Leather”, made from 100% leather waste. Enspire Leather, launched in 2019, can be used in vehicles, furniture, and luxury fashion accessories.

Sustainable Composites sources a majority of its scrapped leather from the Wilson Football Factory (a sporting goods brand’s manufacturing facility), which would have otherwise sent the waste to a landfill or for incineration. These are recycled in the company’s three production facilities in the US, with the main facility based in New York. As of 2019, the company was looking to have 3–5 other sources for its leather waste to ensure smooth production.

The company claims that Enspire comes in a rectangular dimension sheet that is rolled and will therefore avoid material losses for manufacturers. Sustainable Composites also claims that using its recycled leather will save up to 20% in costs compared to using traditional leather.

The company supports its customers with their zero-waste to landfill goal, allowing them to send over any unused Enspire material back to Sustainable Composites for recycling.

One of the company’s early customers is La-Z-Boy, a furniture manufacturer. In 2020, Sustainable Composites reported that VF Corporation (global footwear and apparel company that operates brands such as Vans, The North Face, and Timberland) will use Enspire in its Timberland line of boots (to launch in 2022). The company also reported that fashion and automobile companies are showing interest in Enspire.