New Zealand is world-renowned for its kiwifruit, but with this comes a challenge: the vast amount of orchard and pack-house waste that typically goes unused. KiwiLeather Innovations, a pioneering next-generation materials venture founded by Shelley Houston, is transforming that challenge into a world-first opportunity, creating a high-performance, plastic-free, bio-based leather alternative from kiwifruit by-product.
The idea sparked during the 2021 lockdown, when Shelley found herself experimenting in her home kitchen. Her son, working on kiwifruit orchards at the time, would regularly bring home trays of unsellable fruit.
“He would send me videos of all the waste on the ground,” Shelley recalls. “There was only so much baking I could do. I saw a powerful opportunity: New Zealand’s iconic kiwifruit + clean-green values + a massive waste challenge = a high-impact next-gen material.”
For four years, Shelley worked on refining a plastic-free, non-toxic, flexible leather alternative by hand in her kitchen, pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved with natural materials. But to commercialise the breakthrough, she needed scientific backing with deep biopolymer expertise. Her research led her to Scion. “After seeing their biopolymer capability, international connections, and our shared vision of turning horticultural waste into climate-positive materials, the partnership was a natural fit,” she says.
Scion’s involvement accelerated the project significantly. Their team strengthened formulation science, improved water resistance, and enhanced durability, advancing the material’s performance and suitability. They are supporting pilot-scale testing, materials characterisation, and optimisation of the proprietary bio-based additives.
Crucially, Scion’s global networks have begun opening doors into major international markets, most notably the German automotive sector, where manufacturers are rapidly transitioning toward bio-based, sustainable interior materials. “They enabled us to shape a New Zealand-first, globally scalable next-gen material,” Shelley explains.
Alongside Scion, both AGMARDT – the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust — and the Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA) have played a pivotal role in KiwiLeather’s rapid progression from kitchen concept to commercial-ready innovation.
“We had a stand at Fieldays this year in June,” Shelley says. “On the back of AGMART and BPA funding, the business went from an artisan kitchen project to being featured in international publications about waste-to-worth innovation. Subsequently, in November, we spoke and featured at events in Singapore and were nominated to present at NextFest, the New Zealand Sustainable Networks global event.”
“BPA funding was a critical catalyst,” she continues. “It accelerated our R&D progression, supported our advancement, and gave us strategic guidance and industry connections. Their belief helped position KiwiLeather as a flagship example of turning waste into climate-positive, high-value products.”
KiwiLeather Innovations is now preparing for commercialisation, with a staged rollout including commercial samples for fashion and automotive partners late December and January, and pilot-scale production towards the end of 2026, and ultimately taking license opportunities offshore.
The impact potential is significant. KiwiLeather’s material is engineered for high-end fashion, automotive interiors, furniture, and design applications. As a social enterprise aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the initiative supports orchardists, reduces emissions, and activates a circular economy. Its patented formulation, unique manufacturing IP, sets a new benchmark for climate-positive materials.
With BPA’s support, KiwiLeather Innovations is helping shape a new bio-based materials sector for Aotearoa, one that reduces plastic, creates regional jobs, and positions New Zealand as a global leader in sustainable luxury.
Shelley is one of the keynote speakers at our forthcoming Sustainable Solutions Symposium. For more information, registration and ticket sales, see the symposium website: https://bpa-sss.co.nz/
You can read more about KiwiLeather Innovations and their journey here: https://www.kiwileatherinnovations.com/
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