The product diverts waste from the food industry

The product can be made in a number of colours (Photo: Facebook)

A new vegan leather has been crafted using coconut water - while its creators

promise an animal friendly, sustainable, and eco-conscious alternative to

animal skin.

Startup

The leather alternative is the result of collaboration between product designer Susmith C.

Suseelan, and designer and material researcher Zuzana Gombosova.

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The two have partnered to form a startup called Malai, after the cellulose from which

their product is derived.

The product uses waste from coconut processing plants

Waste reduction

Gombosova and Suseelan are sourcing the coconut water needed to make the cellulose from coconut processing plants in Kerala.

This is just one effort on the part of Malai to reduce food industry waste.

Suseelan said: “We procure natural fibres from banana farmers, who otherwise discard the

stems after the fruit is harvested.”

Leather alternative

The result is a product that is not only flexible, and durable, but does not require

animals to die in its production.

Suseelan said: “Nobody thinks of the harm done to the environment and the number of

animals that are slaughtered in the process.

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“It’s high time that an eco-friendly substitute for leather is introduced in the market.”