A framework to investigate the potential of brewery wastes’ utilization in eco-friendly leather production: A consumer study

Abstract

The extensive utilization and increasing demand for leather and leather alternatives within the fashion industry has raised concerns surrounding ecosystems. To mitigate the environmental impact and excessive reliance on fossil fuels, a lot of effort has gone into substituting synthetic polymers with organic and biodegradable materials. As biotechnological revolution continues to better the leather industry, it is imperative to explore the potential of brewery waste as starting materials to respond to the environmental challenges and meet this demand backed by a framework for its bio-fabrication. An online survey was conducted to explore Australian consumers’ values, and experiences associated with leather and leather alternatives, and to identify their perception and expectations towards brewery waste-based leather as the determinants of its need and prospective fabrication based on the framework. The results indicate that consumers have high environmental awareness, expectations, and value inclination towards the credibility of brewery waste-based leather alternative based on their existing leather preferences. The study is the first to investigate the potentiality of brewery waste for its utilization in eco-friendly leather bio-fabrication in accordance with quantitative consumer research which collectively offers a valuable contribution to the literature by modifying the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, theory of environmentalism, and by extending existing research on environmental innovation and product values to a preliminary framework for future lines of research within this field. The devised framework and the findings of this study can assist in the prospective development of an eco-friendly leather alternative derived from brewery waste. Overall, this work theoretically demonstrates that brewery waste could bridge the gap in the market regarding the need for a greener supply chain as well as a source of material that facilitates the production of an improved alternative to leather in line with the changing demands of the market and the increase in environmental degradation.