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PINATEX 

What is it?
The raw material that forms the base of Piñatex® is a by-product of the pineapple harvest. Pinatex is an innovative leather made entirely out of pineapple leaves, which are usually thrown away in the fruit industry. The fibres of the leaves are dried and fused together to become a natural leather.

Who makes it? 
Carmen Hijosa is the woman behind the idea of Pinatex and she has a background in leather goods and manufacturing. After working in the leather industry for more than twenty years as an industry consultant,  she was shocked to discover the damaging environmental impact of leather production. On an assignment in the Philippines Carmen started looking at local materials available to replace the conventional leather.  Over five years of research and development and a PhD at the Royal College of Art, culminating in the launch of Piñatex™, a natural and sustainable non-woven textile by Ananas Anam Ltd, backed by the InnovationRCA, and protected by patent.


How is it made?  Piñatex™ is made from fibres of pineapple leaves, which are usually discarded and left to rot when the fruit is harvested.  The fine, flexible fibres are extracted from the leaf through a process called decortication.  Once degummed, the fibres are surprisingly soft to the touch and breathable.  They are processed into a non-woven mesh textile at a local factory in the Philippines, then shipped to a finishing factory near Barcelona, Spain.

Which brands use it? 
Pina, Camper, Hugo Boss , Svala, Nae Vegan, Altiir, Po-Zu, Eve and Adis, Ahimsa Collective, Laura Strambi are just some of the brands who has incorporated Pinatex in their products. 

 Environmental impact
As the Piñatex’ pineapple fibres are a by-product of the fruit harvest, no extra water, fertilizers or pesticides are required to produce them.  The textile, which is renewable, compostable, and tactile is also very versatile as it is moldable and easily dyed.
The irregular shape of leather hides leads to significant wastage of around 25%, whereas Pinatex is available on 218cm or 150cm wide rolls.
Furthermore it has passed all the technical tests; ISO international standards for: seam rupture, tear resistance, tensile strength, light and colour fastness and abrasion resistance.