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Have you ever wondered what the future of textiles might look like? Would you ever guess that materials like walnut shells or cocoa husks could help shape it?

We didn’t either – until we discovered Nutico, a material made from food waste that not only mimics genuine leather but is also biodegradable and fully circular.

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From Waste to Worth: Turning By-products into Biomaterials

Every day, the global food industry generates vast amounts of organic waste – shells, husks and peels left over from processing nuts, cocoa and other raw ingredients used in everything from spreads to sweets. Historically, these by-products were discarded or used in low-value applications such as animal feed or compost.

But what if this “waste” could be reimagined as a valuable raw material?

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A Planet-Friendly Mission, Made in Poland

Nutico was developed by Bio2Materials, a biotechnology company focused on next-generation materials and a hub for innovation. After years of research and development, the team experimented with various types of agricultural waste – starting with apple pomace, the pulpy residue left after juice extraction. However, it proved too weak for industrial use and required large amounts of water and energy to process.

So, they changed course.

Building on previous experience and know-how, the team turned their attention to cocoa husks and walnut shells – dry, durable by-products with excellent natural properties.

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Why Cocoa Husks and Walnut Shells?

These unconventional ingredients offer several key advantages:

‍Dry processing – The production process requires no water.‍
Low energy consumption – Minimal energy is needed to prepare and process the raw materials.‍
No virgin resources – Made entirely from agricultural by-products.‍
Biodegradable & plastic-free – A responsible choice compared to conventional leather or synthetics.

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How Is It Made?

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:

‍Crushing & Mixing

Cocoa husks and walnut shells are ground into a fine powder and blended with biodegradable polymers and proprietary natural binders to create a uniform base.‍

Coloring

The material is naturally tinted using cocoa pigments, enhanced with non-toxic, mineral-based dyes to achieve rich, earthy tones.

Forming

The colored blend is processed into granules and then shaped into flexible sheets using roll-to-roll production (a continuous manufacturing technique in which material is rolled through multiple stations to be formed, smoothed and textured).‍

Backing & Finishing

A biodegradable fabric (either knitted or woven) is applied as a backing for strength and stability. The surface is then embossed with different textures – smooth, pebbled (full grain) or crinkled – to suit a variety of applications.

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Sourcing & Scalability

The raw materials are sourced from trusted food producers in Poland and Ukraine, ensuring a traceable supply chain. With a low minimum order of just 50 meters, the material is accessible not only to large-scale enterprises but also to boutique brands looking for ethical, high-quality alternatives.

The Nutico team is open to custom and non-standard projects — including smaller quantity orders — and encourages inquiries from designers and small businesses with unique needs.

Thanks to its strength, flexibility and resistance to wear, the material is suitable for a wide range of industries:

‍Fashion – Bags, wallets, belts.‍
Furniture – Upholstery, decorative panels, cushions.‍
Automotive – Seat covers, interior trims, dashboards.

This alternative leather meets rigorous standards for tensile strength, flexibility and abrasion resistance, making it a durable and reliable substitute for both conventional leather and synthetics. It's also certified by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, guaranteeing a high level of chemical safety.

And here’s the cherry on top – or rather, the cocoa – Nutico retains a natural chocolate aroma. No added chemicals or artificial fragrances – just the subtle, earthy scent of its origins.

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A New Approach to Materials