Banoffee is a premium banana leather developed by Kolkata-based materials innovation firm Atma Leather by upcycling banana crop waste into fiber.
“We are one of the first companies in India to enter this sector and specifically, the first to use banana crop waste.”
India, said to be the world’s largest producer of bananas, generates four tonnes of waste for every tonne of fruit, one of the world’s largest leather exporters. Jinali Modi, founder of Atma, saw the value of using banana waste to create a petroleum-free, premium plant-based material to offer an alternative to leather in a cow-dominated market.
Sustainability Challenges
Modi took his idea to Startup Yale in April 2022, succeeding in securing $25,000 from the Sustainable Venture Prize to launch his company Atma (meaning “soul”), to tackle two sustainability fronts: crop waste and leather production.
Already in India, he has built the company’s R&D crew with experts across the leather, textile, design, agriculture and material science industries. After many trials and tests, Atma developed Ban-O-Fi (Banana Fiber Leather) using 60% banana fiber, 20% natural additives and other 20% synthetic additives to support leather.
According to Atma, its banana leather has a significantly lower environmental impact by using 90% less water and producing 90% less carbon dioxide than animal leather. The brand is focused on innovation and reducing dependence on polymers: “True sustainability is extremely challenging and a goal to which we are deeply dedicated.”
The fruits have turned into leather
Fruit waste is increasingly being transformed into vegan leather, reducing waste and pollution and helping to create cruelty-free and sustainable materials for the fashion industry.
In Spain, Persiskin has launched a vegan leather made from leftover persimmons, while Piñatex uses pineapple leaves to create a luxury alt leather, a favorite with eco-consumers. Other companies are using fruit waste using tamarind pods and apples to make shoe collections, watches, bags and accessories.
“We are one of the first companies in India to enter this sector and, in particular, the first to use banana crop waste,” says Atma Leather.