Symbia
Symbia produces sustainable bio-leather from recycled kombucha and bacterial cellulose, offering sheet material for brands seeking distinctive, eco-friendly products. The company collects organic waste free of charge from kombucha breweries, coffee roasters, and tea producers, converting it into leather-like sheets that have already offset over 8,000 kg of CO₂. Symbia also supports rural Indonesian artisans with free training and locally sourced Batik and Tenun fabrics.
- New Materials
- Clean Technology
- Biotechnology
Funding
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Traditional leather production relies on animal hides and chemical tanning processes that carry significant environmental costs, while many synthetic alternatives depend on petroleum-based materials. Brands seeking distinctive, sustainable materials often struggle to find viable alternatives that offer both aesthetic appeal and genuine ecological benefits.
Solution
Symbia grows sustainable leather out of recycled kombucha and bacterial culture, offering sheets to brands who want to attract customers looking for distinct, avant-garde products and are interested in sustainability. The company partners with kombucha breweries, coffee roasters, tea companies, and other local beverage producers, handling collection completely free of charge and transforming organic waste into bacterial cellulose for sustainable material production. Symbia's fermentation-based process converts SCOBY culture into finished bio-leather sheets. The company also visits rural Indonesian provinces to host free training programs, providing all materials and skills for craftspeople to grow their own Kombucha Bioleather, while using locally sourced Batik and Tenun fabric to promote cultural heritage on a global scale.
Target Audience
Primary customers are independent designers and brands across the United States seeking distinctive, sustainable leather alternatives for their products.
Features
- Bio-leather sheets grown entirely from fermentation of recycled kombucha and bacterial culture, with no animal hides or petroleum inputs
- Free organic waste collection service for beverage producers, converting their byproducts into bacterial cellulose
- Community training programs in rural Indonesian provinces that teach craftspeople to grow their own Kombucha Bioleather
- Integration of locally sourced Batik and Tenun fabrics into products to support cultural heritage
- Material suitable for replacing leather components in existing products or collaborating on entirely new designs