The material industry has always been eager to transform the way it thinks and works. Changes in consumer attitudes have huge influence on this, and all of the material industry is currently trying to keep up with two consumer demands simultaneously: increased consumption and improved sustainability.

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for rail and other modes of transport. As a result, the use of natural resources is increasing, and our climate is changing. However, consumers are also increasingly aware of their impact on this planet, and therefore look for more sustainable options. Ultimately, the goal must be to deliver what people want, and what the planet deserves: high-quality products and services, developed and produced responsibly and sustainably.

This opens the debate of what the best-possible material is for each aspect of a modern consumer’s life. While often natural materials are preferable, the depletion of our natural resources begs the question of whether they are sustainable enough. The need to depend less on these resources is what has brought around the current wave of material evolution.

When it comes to seating, fabric is a common option. The issue with using fabric boils down to the high customer turnover rate on a train. Commuter trains travel up and down the country, transporting hundreds, if not thousands, of people every day. Fabric seats are hard to maintain and difficult to clean, which can compromise the travel experience of dozens of travellers in a single day.
source= https://railway-news.com/engineered-leather-the-latest-chapter-in-material-evolution/