Peel: Transforming Discarded Fruit Skins into Biodegradable Design Materials

Fruit waste can serve as a valuable raw material for sustainable design. PEEL, a material research project by designer Nefeli Vitoraki, shows how discarded fruit skins can become biodegradable materials for furniture and accessories. The project avoids synthetic additives, adhesives and chemical treatments. Instead, it highlights the natural properties of the material while reducing waste and supporting circular design.

Turning Fruit Waste into a Textile

PEEL gives discarded fruit skins a second life. Vitoraki developed a fully chemical-free process that transforms the skins into a flexible textile. The process preserves the natural texture, colour variations and surface irregularities of each skin. Rather than hiding these characteristics, the material uses them as part of its appearance.

The project also explores alternatives to petroleum-based textiles and leather substitutes. Because the production process avoids synthetic treatments and adhesives, the final material remains fully biodegradable.

A Stool Upholstered with Fruit Skins

The Peel Stool combines a white oak frame with the fruit skin textile. The upholstery contains no synthetic materials or adhesives. Instead, the design relies on the natural strength and flexibility of the material.

According to the designer, the stool produces approximately 90 to 95% lower CO₂ emissions than conventional leather and polyurethane (PU) upholstery. Although these figures have not been independently verified, they illustrate the project’s aim to reduce the environmental impact of upholstery materials.

A Matching Biodegradable Bag

Vitoraki also applied the material to the PEEL Bag. The bag consists of around 40 fruit skins, backed with cotton muslin and lined with linen. Like the stool, it contains no synthetic materials, adhesives or chemical treatments. As a result, the entire product is biodegradable.

The simple design keeps the material at the centre of attention. Each fruit skin remains visible, allowing its natural texture, colour and unique markings to shape the final appearance. The project demonstrates that biological waste streams can become functional materials without extensive processing.

The PEEL material system has appeared at the Materials Research Exchange as part of Innovate UK and at Following Fallowing at the Royal College of Art. The project has also joined the Green Grads 2026 cohort. Together, these exhibitions highlight its contribution to bio-based materials and circular design research.

Source & photos: Nefeli Vitoraki