In temples across India, offerings of flowers are a common sight, but people usually assume that these remnants end up being discarded into local rivers. However, a startup based in Kanpur found a unique commercial opportunity in these unwanted floral wastes that few would have imagined. The enterprise not only manufactured incense sticks from temple flowers but also developed a leather-like material named fleather. Beyond this, the company produces hundreds of new products entirely derived from flowers. Today, the valuation and business turnover of this enterprise has crossed the 200 crore rupee mark. Named Phool, this venture is a prime example of turning an innovative idea into a massive success.
The Inspiration Along the Banks of the Ganges
The journey began back in 2015 when the founder of Phool, Ankit Agarwal, visited the banks of the Ganges in Kanpur along with his friend Karan Rastogi. While observing people bathing in the river on one side, he noticed numerous individuals discarding floral offerings into the very same waters. Ankit wondered whether these flowers could be put to a much better and more productive use. This observation planted the seed for creating useful products out of discarded flowers. According to information provided on the company website, people initially doubted the concept, but eventually came around to accepting that it was a brilliant idea.
The Accidental Discovery of Fleather
Ankit explains that the initial hurdle involved collecting flowers from various temples while ensuring they remained clean and usable. The team managed this carefully and first started by making incense sticks from these collections. They separated the petals to make them suitable for processing. One day, a thick white mat-like layer of fiber was noticed over the leftover floral waste at the factory after production. Upon testing this material, its texture remarkably resembled leather; it was flexible and could be shaped into a sheet. This breakthrough marked the beginning of crafting leather from flowers, leading to the launch of fleather, which combines the terms flower and leather. In 2022, fleather earned a spot among the finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize in the United Kingdom.
Extensive Research and Fashion Industry Demand
Creating fleather required months of dedicated effort, spanning two years of research before the team achieved success in 2020. The operational process starts by collecting flowers from temples and cleaning them to remove intertwined plastics, threads, and paper remnants. Afterward, the petals are segregated to produce a fibrous material. Today, this sustainable material finds extensive application in the fashion industry. Fleather is not animal leather, but rather an innovative biomaterial derived entirely from botanical waste.
Investor Backing and Empowering Women
As investors caught wind of this unique experiment, capital began flowing into the venture. According to reports, the operating revenue of the company has reached 77 crore rupees, with its valuation surging past 20 crore rupees. Back in 2020, investors pumped approximately 2 million dollars into the startup, followed by another 8 million dollars in April 2022. Prominent investors, including actress Alia Bhatt, participated in the Series A funding round at the time. Currently, the enterprise has provided direct employment to 163 women. Records indicate that Phool has successfully collected 13 thousand tons of floral waste to manufacture sustainable materials.
