FILK to update study comparing leather to alternative materials
Germany-based research and testing organisation FILK has confirmed that it is working on an update to its groundbreaking 2021 study comparing the performance of leather with that of synthetic alternative materials.
The news came to light during an energetic conversation on social media platform LinkedIn at the end of June.
FILK’s original research was published in an international, peer-reviewed journal, Coatings, and has earned more than 55,000 views and almost 100 citations.
After more than four years, however, it has suddenly come under attack from the manufacturer of one of the synthetic alternative materials the study featured.
Mexico-based producer of a cactus-based material, Desserto, published a blog post on June 24 questioning FILK’s “scientific neutrality”. It alleged that because leather industry body COTANCE had procured samples of alternative materials for FILK to analyse, the report’s findings “lose scientific weight and lean into the territory of industry-funded advocacy”.
It even used the phrase ‘Science for sale’ in the title it applied to the post.
When it reposted the blog entry on LinkedIn, FILK responded with patience and politeness, saying it welcomed “critical engagement” with its scientific work and was committed to “a constructive and objective dialogue”.
It made it clear that the original study was conducted independently, without external funding and provided full transparency regarding its testing procedures and evaluation criteria.
FILK then said an updated version of the study is currently in preparation.
