Can bioleather replace animal leather? Bioleather creates sustainable leather from microbes, eliminating the need for animal leather. Our durable, eco-friendly alternative uses minimal land, water, and energy.

Shoes and bags made from tomatoes? Thats exactly what earned The Bio Company (TBC) the Best Innovation in Textile at the PETA Vegan Fashion Awards 2021.

As eco-friendly bioleather, a plant-based alternative to animal leather gains traction, Pritesh Mistry, the 26-year-old founder of The Bio Company, has pioneered a way to transform tomato waste into sustainable fashion.

By using tomatoes as a primary raw material and avoiding polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), TBCs Bioleather brand delivers a truly sustainable leather alternative, offering cruelty-free, vegan, and environmentally friendly products without compromising on quality or durability.

Why Tomatoes for Sustainable Bioleather?

India, the second-largest producer of tomatoes, generates around 44 million tons annually, with 30-35% going to waste. Seeing an opportunity, Pritesh Mistry chose tomato waste—mainly skin and seeds—as a sustainable raw material for Bioleather.

Tomatoes are rich in pectin, a natural polymer that enhances flexibility and strength. Their fibrous structure and natural oils help create a leather-like texture, making Bioleather both durable and biodegradable—a truly eco-friendly alternative to animal leather.

Tackling Food Waste & Pollution with Tomato-Based Bioleather

"By utilizing tomatoes, we address both food waste and pollution, transforming an overlooked by-product into a valuable, eco-friendly material," says Pritesh Mistry.

With a biotechnology degree from Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Mistrys journey to create bioleather from tomatoes began as a final-year project. His research took him to Kanpurs tanneries, where he saw the severe environmental impact of leather tanning. Around the same time, visits to farms revealed the staggering amount of food waste, inspiring him to develop a sustainable alternative to animal leather.

Innovating Sustainable Leather

"These experiences made me realize there had to be a better way—one that tackled both pollution and waste," says bioentrepreneur Pritesh Mistry.

While still in college, Mistry developed the first Bioleather prototype, spending months experimenting with tomato by-products, refining formulations, and enhancing texture and durability. His goal? To create a material that resembled leather but was fully sustainable and biodegradable.

Today, The Bio Company (TBC) holds patents for both its technology and production process, securing its position as a leader in alt-leather innovation and the future of eco-friendly, plant-based leather alternatives.

Since the launch of Original Bioleather in 2019, The Bio Company (TBC) has focused on producing affordable, vegan, carbon-neutral, biodegradable leather dyed with all-natural dyes.

Crafting Tomato-Based Bioleather

To create Bioleather, TBC sources tomato waste—primarily from the by-products of food processing units and farms—across regions like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, where tomatoes are abundant.

"The by-products would otherwise go to waste," explains Pritesh Mistry, "so we form partnerships with local suppliers to collect and repurpose them into a valuable, eco-friendly resource." This process ensures that waste is minimized while creating a sustainable alternative to animal leather.

At its Surat plant, Bioleather is created using tomato by-products, combined with biopolymers, plant-based binders, and natural fibers. The production process blends these ingredients, followed by non-toxic curing, resulting in a durable, leather-like texture. This eco-friendly method ensures the creation of sustainable, biodegradable leather without the need for harmful chemicals, offering a cruelty-free alternative to traditional animal leather.

A final plant-based coating enhances the water resistance and durability of the Bioleather, resulting in a PU- and PVC-free, biodegradable leather alternative. This eco-conscious process ensures minimal environmental impact, making Bioleather a sustainable choice for those seeking cruelty-free and environmentally friendly products.

Early Adoption of Bioleather Across Industries

The early adopters of Bioleather are making waves in fashion, accessories, and the automotive sectors, with sustainable brands transforming it into products like jackets, bags, and footwear.

"Bioleather is PU/PVC-free, which sets it apart from conventional faux leathers. Its an extraordinary innovation, and its plant-based leather stands out for its unique origin—rejected tomatoes," says Natasha Mangwani, founder & CEO of Satuhati, a Toronto-based plant-based handbag brand.

“We started designing samples with Bioleather in May 2024 and began commercial production just three months later. After an incredible Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale, we restocked for the Christmas markets, and the response was beyond our expectations,” she adds.

Bioleather in the Automotive Industry and Beyond

In the automotive industry, several brands are exploring Bioleather for upholstery and interior design, seeking a sustainable alternative to traditional leather, according to Pritesh Mistry.

When asked about whether his innovative products resemble animal leather in smell, Mistry is quick to clarify that Bioleather has a pleasant, neutral scent—distinctly avoiding the typical plastic-like or chemical odors often found in synthetic leathers.

Currently, The Bio Company (TBC) produces around 5,000 meters of Bioleather per month at its Surat-based plant.

"This production capacity is scalable, and as demand increases, we are working to expand our output while ensuring the quality and sustainability of the material remain top priorities," says Mistry.

Edited by Gayathri