Page 59 - CIJ March 2024 - Digital Edition

he enormous footprint of fruit
of leather production corresponds
begins with raising to 10kg of
cattle and proceeds to waste. Once
Tthe polluting processes the fruits are
of tanning and dyeing. harvested,

With a worldwide burgeoning the banana
demand for ethical fashion, plant has to be
brands are turning to cruelty- cut. The leaves
free leathers like those extracted are used for the
from fossil fuel-extracted plastic manufacture of
materials like PU or PVC. Such plates but less than
alternatives decimate animals from one per cent of the
the manufacturing process but use banana stem is used. Jinali Mody
plastic as the main source. This This abundance of crop
translates to products that are not waste eliminates the paucity
biodegradable and rely on a carbon- associated with procuring raw
intensive resource: petroleum. materials. `300 per sqft. Around 2,000kg of
Food waste, on the other hand, The high percentage of plant banana stem yields roughly 3,000
contributes to about 10% of the waste in the leather composition leather sheets per month. The waste
global greenhouse gas emissions. translates to a 95% waste reduction, generated during the manufacturing
The solution to this two-pronged a 90% reduction in water usage, process goes back to the farmers to
issue is explored globally by 80%-plus reduction in carbon be used as fertilizer and this makes
dipping into various food wastes to emissions, and 100% reduction in the process sustainable. There is an
find sustainable alternatives. toxic waste compared to animal avenue for job generation among
“Bananas became the go-to leather. It closely matches animal the local farming community as
choice as it is available throughout leather in characteristics like tear they contribute immensely to such
the year and unfortunately, 85-95% strength, flexibility, look, and feel. sustainable ventures.
of the crop is wasted annually. Our Currently suitable for bags and
mission is to protect our planet by wallets, banana leather also has the
creating plant-based leather from potential for being used to make
banana crop waste. We dedicated shoes and apparel.
ourselves to creating leather, The manufactured
which looks, feels, and smells like leather is sold in
traditional leather but is vegan, sheets and is
sustainable and plant based.” currently
Approximately, one kilogram priced at

Clean India Journal•MARCH 2024 59
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