Major Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways has unveiled cabin seat headrest covers made from pomace of apples grown in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan.

ANA is trying to introduce sustainable materials for its aircraft, in collaboration with its business partners.

Synthetic leather for the covers was developed by start-up firm appcycle based in Aomori Prefecture, where apples are a local specialty.

Leather produced from non-animal materials is called vegan leather, and is fast gaining global attention.

Shigeno Yuka, the head of appcycle, says it developed the material to help resolve the issue of apples going to waste.

She expressed hope that the product from Aomori will gain worldwide attention.

ANA President Inoue Shinichi called creating leather from apple residue an amazing challenge.

He added that he wants to show the world that the product is a prime example of how combining technologies from Japan can create high-quality materials.

The headrest covers have been put on some seats of an international flight departing on Wednesday.