Neoskill

Millions of tonnes of fruit waste pollute the planet every year, while conventional leather production leaves a large carbon footprint and pollutes water. Existing alternatives are either short-lived or expensive to produce. Neoskill turns fruit waste into a material that looks and feels like leather: local raw material, less waste and CO2, a durable and attractive product. The audience is eco-conscious buyers, designers and brands looking for innovative sustainable materials, and a growing Kazakh market. The first samples were made by the author at home: grinding the raw material, plasticising, forming the sheet on starch and pectin binders with microcellulose, drying, pressing and coating. Next steps: refining the formula and the process, buying equipment and renting premises, agreements with waste suppliers, and environmental and manufacturing certification.