<p>
Phool.Co, backed by IIT-Kanpur, has been awarded the BIRAC Innovator Award 2021 for making &#39;Fleather&#39;, a bio alternative to animal leather.</p>
<p>
Fleather is made from temple flowers and farm waste while Phool is a brand owned by Kanpur Flowercycling Pvt. Ltd that was founded in 2017.</p>
<p>
Incubated at Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT-Kanpur, Phool developed a biomaterial that performs almost like leather.</p>
<p>
Fleather is built on the principles of biomimicry and can be customized for aesthetic expression, flexibility, density, and strength. The process of making Fleather is ultra-sustainable, not only cutting down several traditional downstream leather tanning processes but also helping provide better job opportunities to women from the marginalised sections of society.</p>
<p>
The Director of IIT, Kanpur, Professor Abhay Karandikar, said: &quot;I am happy that Phool has been recognized for its work. It is not only a great business but also a great workplace providing livelihood to more than 100 women from the marginalized section of the society.&quot;</p>
<p>
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a non-profit set up by the department of Biotechnology (DBT), government of India that aims to empower the emerging biotech enterprises to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally-relevant product development needs.</p>
<p>
The selection for BIRAC Innovation Award was made by an eminent jury to offer recognition to the most significant contributors to research-based scientific innovations.</p>
<p>
The founder of Phool.Co Ankit Agarwal, said: &quot;We humans love leather. It delivers status, luxury and comfort. But leather is a co-product of the livestock industry that produces around 18 per cent of the total earth&#39;s greenhouse emission. Fleather can perform like leather while significantly cutting down the emission and reusing temple and farm waste.&quot;</p>
<p>
<em>(IANS)</em></p>
A Chinese delegation walked out of a Holocaust memorial event in the Israeli city of…
A total of 28 cases of enforced disappearances were reported across Balochistan and other regions…
Efforts are underway to negotiate the presence of US forces in Niger, amidst broader discussions…
In a special evacuation operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday airlifted an American…
The Awami Action Committee in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) has vowed to continue protests amid…
In a pivotal report submitted to Congress, the Biden administration conveyed its evaluation of Israel's…