Property-function co-upcycling of banana peel waste into robust, smart vegan leather enabled by marine biomass and liquid crystal elastomers

Key Points

• Smart materials can be developed through co-upcycling banana peel waste, offering environmentally friendly alternatives.
• The combination of liquid crystal elastomers with marine biomass leads to enhanced flexibility and durability in the vegan leather.
• Assessment reveals significant improvements in mechanical properties, with increased strength and resilience over traditional materials.
• This approach highlights the potential for sustainable waste management while addressing the demand for eco-friendly materials.