Nike has unveiled a new sustainable leather material called Flyleather. The new material is described by Nike as looking and feeling like regular leather, although it is derived from a totally different process. Flyleather is produced from the scraps of cow hide that are typically discarded by tanneries. During an ordinary leather manufacturing process, up to 30 percent of a cow's hide is discarded, and often ends up in a landfill. Nike gathers the discarded leather scraps and combines them with synthetic fibers via a hydro process that fuses them into one material. The material is then ready for the finishing process, which can include dyeing the fiber. Cutting efficiency is improved by completing the process on a roll, a method that creates less waste than traditional cut-and-sew methods for full-grain leather. Flyleather is made with at least 50 percent recycled natural leather fiber. The new material uses 90 percent less water than traditional leather manufacturing, and is said to have an 80 percent lower carbon footprint. According to Nike, Flyleather is also 40 percent lighter than traditional leather and five times stronger, based on abrasion testing. These features are supposed to offer greater support and elasticity, depending on the requirements of specific sports. The first product to use Flyleather is the Nike Flyleather Tennis Classic, an all-white version of Nike's premium court shoe.

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