Simran Bains-Shepard, Textile Product Science B.S. ’22, explored the opportunity to create environmentally-friendly soccer balls using commercially available plant-based leathers. This sustainable solution would replace the polyurethane or polyvinylchloride synthetic leather shells that are currently in use. The average lifespan for a soccer ball is 1 to 1.5 years; not including those in professional matches, in which balls are used 1 to 2 times. This results in millions of soccer balls in landfills across the globe. Utilizing a range of textile testing equipment in the Jeff Bruner Materials Characterization Lab, Simran explored the fitness for use properties of pineapple and cactus leathers. This initial research indicates the potential for plant-based leathers as a sustainable alternative.