The leather industry has long been responsible for significant environmental damage, from excessive water consumption to carbon emissions and toxic waste disposal. Moreover, the industry's reliance on chromium tanning and untreated wastewater discharge has led to pollution of water bodies. Additionally, the disposal of crop waste, especially from banana plants, poses a significant challenge.

Atma Leather has spent over a year developing Banofi Leather, a plant-based alternative that closely matches the technical specifications of animal leather. By utilizing banana stem fiber, a byproduct of the banana crop, Atma Leather addresses both the environmental impact of the leather industry and the issue of crop waste burning. Banofi Leather offers comparable tear strength, flexibility, look, and feel to animal leather while significantly reducing water consumption, carbon emissions, and toxic waste.

Banofi Leather exhibits a 95% reduction in water usage, 90% reduction in carbon emissions, and 100% reduction in toxic waste compared to animal leather. Although the material is currently suitable for bags and wallets, further improvements are being made to enhance its durability, softness, and tensile strength for applications in furniture and automotive sectors. Comprehensive tests have shown that Banofi Leather is free from toxic metals and chemicals.

Since its inception, Atma Leather has made significant progress in making its vision a reality. With initial funding of $25,000 from Startup Yale's 2022 Sustainable Venture Prize, Atma Leather has established a manufacturing facility in Calcutta, India, focusing on research and development.