In South Korea’s Chilgok County, melon peels are being turned into an innovative material for bags and wallets. Chilgok is one of the country’s major melon-growing regions, but tons of low-quality fruit are discarded every rainy season, with some ending up in the Nakdong River and polluting the water.
Local agricultural researchers began experimenting in 2024. After unsuccessful attempts to use whole melons, they switched to the peels while the flesh was used as animal feed. After dozens of trials, they developed a fabric containing 4% melon, later increasing the share to 10%. The material was certified vegan, and a crowdfunding campaign for the first products reached its target ahead of schedule.
The project is part of a broader search for alternatives to conventional leather, which has a significant environmental footprint. Researchers and companies are increasingly exploring materials made from plants, mycelium and cultured cells. Chilgok now aims to raise the melon content to 22% and eventually use the material in car interiors.
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