Plant-based materials such as corn fiber, pineapple, apple or natural rubber have a lot of advantages. These natural resources consume considerably less water than beef (the origin of leather if we must remember) and do not come from the fossil industry like synthetics. These materials are very often recyclable, for some even biodegradable (the grail). And we are not even talking about the impact on the animal cause. In short, these are significant industrial advances. In spite of this, there is always room for improvement.

The environmental impact of a product can be seen from several angles and two points of improvement can be identified concerning these plant materials:

Carbon impact: Many of these natural raw materials come from distant countries (Asia, Brazil...) Of course the carbon impact linked to European manufacturing is still too high for natural rubber soles for example. 

What if we studied ways to develop new European agricultural solutions?

We could combine agriculture, biochemistry and fashion to create the clothes and accessories of tomorrow!

Recently a farmer named Marc Giovinazzo from the Var region started growing bananas. And it works! He produces his organic fruits under a giant greenhouse of 300m2. So when will we find innovative solutions to create European rubber trees and have a more local latex? Or find new alternatives closer to home as biochemists Sergre Planu and Daniel Ploch have studied with a mysterious Russian plant that could eventually replace latex?

2nd area for improvement: Is the material renewable?

Intensive beef farming is responsible for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions (source Greenpeace - FAO.org). This industry has terrible repercussions on deforestation, especially in the Amazon.

Natural rubber coming directly from the trees can create the same type of problems. Working with plantations that guarantee "fair trade" conditions in a sustainable development approach is essential

It must be guaranteed that the plantation does not cause any deforestation. 

Finally, it's all very well to use vegetable materials for our bags or shoes, but we still have to make sure that these apples, mushrooms... will not be missing for the food or the balance of the eco-systems! In other words, is this plant or this fruit/vegetable renewable? And at this level, we must say that corn is fantastic!