In a landmark move to promote sustainable livelihoods and green innovation, the CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) has partnered with the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) to establish vegan leather manufacturing units across Northeast India.
The initiative will see the setting up of 12 integrated agro-processing units in key Northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. The total project outlay is estimated at ₹70 crore, with each plant costing approximately ₹5.3 crore. The collaboration combines CSIR-NIIST’s breakthrough technology—developed to create vegan leather from agro-waste such as banana pseudostems, pineapple leaves, mango and cactus peels—with NECTAR’s on-ground implementation expertise in the Northeast region.
“This partnership aims to empower rural communities by converting agricultural residues into high-value, eco-friendly products,” said Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST. “Our vegan leather is not only biodegradable and cruelty-free but also 50% cheaper than synthetic leather.” Each plant will be equipped to process local biomass into vegan leather sheets, banana fibre textiles, organic fertilisers, and innovative products such as biodegradable sanitary pads and digestive beverages infused with local botanicals like ginger.
NECTAR CEO Arun Kumar Sarma emphasized that the initiative aligns with the government’s vision of self-reliant and green industrial development in the region. “We are ensuring that technology meets tradition and natural resources are used wisely to generate employment, empower farmers, and promote sustainability,” he said.
The vegan leather units are part of a broader NECTAR initiative to scale up organic farming over 25,000 acres across the Northeast, using satellite monitoring, soil health testing, and blockchain-based traceability to support agri-entrepreneurs. Experts say this collaboration not only promotes circular economy practices but also offers a scalable model for eco-friendly industrial growth and women-led microenterprise development.
The rollout of all 12 units is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with initial clusters in Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura already operational.