Another essential aspect of sustainable design is durability. High-performance upholstery—like PEEL—can drastically reduce the need for frequent refurbishments. Mid-range hotels typically renovate every 5 to 7 years, but if the lifespan of upholstery is extended by just 3 to 5 years, material usage could drop by as much as 40%.

Durability is largely defined by rubbing resistance. While standard uncoated fabrics rarely exceed 100,000 Martindale cycles, high-end materials like PEEL can reach 400,000 cycles (ISO 5470-2). PEEL also delivers superior resistance to fraying, staining, and shape deformation, all while remaining easy to clean and disinfect.

Leather is often seen as a naturally durable and biobased contract upholstery alternative—but it also presents notable drawbacks. High costs and limited availability make it insufficient to meet the scale of demand in the hospitality sector. Furthermore, to match the cleanability and surface resistance of PVC-coated fabrics, leather must often be heavily coated—diminishing the relevance of its biobased appeal.

PEEL provides a more practical solution: it matches or exceeds leather in durability and hygiene performance, while being more cost-effective, widely available, and aligned with the growing demand for scalable, sustainable materials.

Procurement strategies in the hospitality industry are evolving. Durability metrics and life cycle cost analyses are replacing simplistic price-based decisions [1]. In this context, PEEL stands out—not only as a sustainable choice but also as a smart, long-term investment that reduces waste and enhances operational efficiency.