2 follows
Natural fibers from agricultural waste
AltMat is an alternative material manufacturing envisioning to mainstream sustainable materials. It converts agriculture waste into alternative materials for industries like Textiles and Packaging. It is steadfast to supply its products like natural fiber yarns, fabrics, paper globally.
Founded in India post 3 years of rigorous explorations, company manages its own supply chains to sources Agri waste and secondary produce of plants like hemp, banana, nettle etc. AltMat is working on multiple materials that can put agriculture waste to better in the coming years. It’s one of the kind manufacturing facilities with an unprecedented scale that would make these materials available at scale and high quality from September 2020.
AltMat Materials uses less than 20% of the water used by cotton and does not need insecticides and pesticides. Banana waste is often discarded or burnt. Purchasing such a waste creates additional income for farmers and rural ecosystem.
The company uses a proprietary processing technique to convert the waste into natural fibres and yarns. The fibers can be used for a broad range of textile applications such as medical textiles, clothes, home textiles, sportswear, lingerie, diapers, and sanitary pads. The startup aims to sell its fibers to brands and is also looking for partnerships with companies to launch collaborative collections. It is working on ensuring its textiles do not compromise on feel and quality. The fibers can be processed on existing cotton spinning and weaving machines.
AltMat provides its products and also sources raw material globally. It is open to entering purchase contracts. The company also provides consulting services to companies looking to blends fibers for specific uses.
In 2020, it was selected as one of seven startups in Fashion for Good’s South Asia innovation program. The founder of the company has awarded as one of the youngest Women Transforming India Award felicitated by Vice President of India on behalf of Government and United nations. They have been present on stages like the United Nations Climate Change Stopover, TechStars etc. for their work.
Details
Links
Key Contacts
Shikha Shah
Founder and CEO
Shikha started learning about recycling and pollution since she was 10 from her father who is into business of recycling metal waste. Furthermore, living in Ahmedabad- known as Manchester of the East owing to the prominence of its industrialization and textile industries also played its own charm. She has a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from the Babson College, Boston, USA, and studied business from the Nirma University. She has explored working since a young age in different structures ranging from family businesses, a film making start-up, a social impact NGOs to working in an MNC like Adani’s strategy and chairman team, with a couple of American and a European company.
Her sensitivity towards climate change and the prior experienced emerged as the foundation for AltMat. She has been the youngest to receive the Women Transforming India Award by the Vice President of India on behalf of the United Nations and Government of India. She has also been given Atal Innovation Medal, Rajeev Circle fellowship, and has spoken on stages like TedX, Lakme Fashion Week, TechStars, Etc
Comments (0)