Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven | PalmLeather
Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven is a product design studio, however in a very different way. We design value chains, from raw material all the way up to product and the consumer experience. Because our projects are so new, different and sometimes radical we like to experiment, test and design the entire value chain to finish with a Proof of Principle.
Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven, Tjeerd Veenhoven, Groningen, Palmleer, palm leather, huis veendam, material development, Sustainable Business, Global Change Award, social entrepreneur, social entrepreneurship and sustainability
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PalmLeather

Palm Leather

What it is
Palmleather is made by dipping the dry and brittle leave from the Arecae Betel Nut into a biological softening solution we’ve designed in 2011. After a few days the material turns permanently soft and flexible and shows great aesthetic quality. The material can be processed on conventional machines.

Replacing leather
The entire Palmleather project was instigated as a cheap plant based replacement for animal leather, plastic and rubber. These materials are sustainable nightmares and hit even harder in the poorer regions of the world.

Utilizing waste streams
Waste does not exist. But in general food-production brings large volumes of waste, pre-consumption and after consumption. Before returning to the natural compost cycle the Areca Betel Nut leaves can be upgraded to become more useful. Key is not to pollute this waste material when upgraded.

Natural material upgrade
Natural fibers are under appreciated and have (to) little value. Increasing there versatility and functionality greatly contributes to natural fibers becoming used more frequent again. By upgrading natural fibers used in craft sustainable change can be a bottom up process.

Ecological solution
This mixture has no harmful effect on people, animal or nature, on a small or large scale. All ingredients are graded for human consumption. The compounds are easily absorbed in the local biotope.

Raw material availability
Small processes grow and it is important to look ahead from the start. In the Southern part of India 80 million Areca Betel Nut trees grow in plantations, parks, reserves and in natural habitat. Modest estimates result in 1 m2 leave material from 1 tree of which at this moment 5% is utilized with the production of Areca Leave Plates.

Water consumption
In leather, cotton and wool large quantities of water is being used. It is also hard to use this water in closed production cycles because cleaning the water for re-use is to expensive. Jeans use up to 1200 liter of water in the production process. Palmleather strives to use a maximum of 20 liter per m2 Palmleather premium quality in this process.

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