Biocomposite Coconut Leather
MALAI-0001
Malai is a flexible, biocomposite material made from organic bacterial cellulose, grown on agricultural waste sourced from the coconut industry in Southern India. The material has a feel comparable to leather or paper. It is water resistant and vegan.
To produce Malai, "waste" coconut water is rescued from Indian coconut farmers, and is fermented for twelve to fourteen days, after which sheets of cellulose jelly are produced. The jelly is then refined by enriching it with natural fibres, gums and resins for a more durable material, that can be formed into flat sheets. The sheets are air-dried and softened with a gentle water-resistant treatment.
Malai is available in three weights: Soft (300-500 g/sm), Medium (550-650 g/sm), and Strong (700- 1000 g/sm), suitable for various applications, from fashion to furnishing and even stationary. Malai is also available în a range of nine colours, in a matt, semi-glossy or glossy finish.
Aspect details
Glossiness |
Unknown |
Translucence |
0% |
Texture |
Smooth |
Sustainability
Compostable |
Yes |
Recyclable |
Yes |
Biodegradable |
Yes |
Lightweight |
Yes |
Renewable |
Yes |
Carbon footprint |
- |
Recycled content |
- |
Toxicity |
- |
Technical details
Hardness |
Soft |
Structure |
Closed |
Acoustics |
N/A |
Format |
2D - Sheet |
Odor |
Unknown |
Temperature |
Medium |
Antibacterial |
No |
Resistance
Scratch resistence |
Good |
Fire resistence |
Unknown |
UV resistence |
Unknown |
Water resistence |
Good |
Abrasion resistence |
Moderate |
Skid resistence |
N/A |