Since we last profiled KiwiLeather Innovations in December last year, the company has continued to make significant progress through its collaboration with the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI) and the Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA).
Founder Shelley Houston gives us an update on the past six months:
“One of the highlights was being invited as a featured speaker at the BPA Sustainable Solutions Symposium 2026, where I shared our journey from a kitchen-based experiment to a science-backed biomaterials venture. The response from attendees was incredibly positive and reinforced the importance of telling innovation stories in a way that is accessible and inspiring for both industry and the wider public.
“Our work has also evolved beyond developing a single leather-like material. Through ongoing collaboration with BSI and BPA, we are now looking at extracting and refining compounds from waste kiwifruit to better position us for the development of a superior bio-based leather-like material. By understanding and isolating valuable components within the waste stream, we are gaining deeper insights into how these compounds can contribute to material performance, consistency, and scalability.
“Alongside this work, a number of horticultural bioactive opportunities are also being investigated, with the potential to create circular pathways that return value back to the kiwifruit and wider horticultural sectors. This approach reflects our broader vision of ensuring that valuable biological resources are utilised to their highest potential rather than being discarded as waste.
“A key lesson from the BPA programme has been the importance of “going backwards to go forwards”. Working alongside researchers, we have systematically deconstructed and validated every ingredient and processing step within our formulation to ensure it can be scientifically understood, replicated, and ultimately commercialised at scale. This process has strengthened both the material performance and the long-term commercial pathway.
“Commercial interest continues to grow from both New Zealand and international brands seeking sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. We are currently preparing for our appearance in the Innovation Hub at Fieldays 2026, where we will showcase our latest material developments and continue conversations with industry, investors, and potential commercial partners.
“As the company enters its next phase of growth, we are also transitioning toward a new brand identity, Materially Kiwi Innovations, reflecting a broader ambition to create high-value biomaterials and circular economy solutions derived from New Zealand’s underutilised biological resources.
“The BPA’s support has been instrumental in helping transform a founder-led idea into a credible science-backed innovation platform. We remain extremely grateful for the funding, expertise, networks, and encouragement that have helped accelerate our journey and shape our vision for the future.”
– Shelley Houston, founding director, KiwiLeather Innovations.
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