Jinali Mody is the founder and CEO of Banofi Leather. The material-science startup is turning banana crop waste into a plant-based leather alternative. Made from banana stem fibre blended with natural binders and starches, the material looks, feels and even smells like animal leather. It reduces water use by 95 per cent, cuts carbon emissions by more than 90 per cent and eliminates toxic waste. The company now employs a team that is 60 per cent women and partners with around 100 smallholder banana farmers, providing additional income from stems that would have previously been burned or left to rot. Banofi products are attracting the attention of global fashion houses, proving that agricultural waste can be transformed into durable, high-performance alternatives for a sustainable future. 

Mody completed her undergraduate studies in biochemistry at St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai and earned a master’s degree at the Yale School of Environment. She has been recognized internationally for her leadership in sustainable fashion, winning the 2023 Hult Prize of US$1 million, the Sustainable Material of the Year Award in India and the WEGE Prize. She has received recognition from the World Economic Forum, and support from the MIT Climate and Energy Prize.