Summary

Ananas Anam has created alternative textiles that mimic the durability and uses of leather using leaves of the pineapple plant. These leaves are considered a waste product of the pineapple harvest and production. The company has created two textile alternatives from this waste material: Piñatex^® and Piñayarn^®. After pineapple harvest, long fibers are extracted from the leaves using semi-automatic machines. These fibers are dried naturally by the sun, and go through a purification process, which results in a fluff-like material, which get mixed in with a corn based polylactic acid (PLA) to create Piñafelt, a non-woven mesh which forms the base of all Piñatex. The company sells these textiles to brands that are looking for a textile alternative that is vegan and more sustainable than other textiles, espeically leather. Although the material is not biodegradable, it is considered biodegradable under controlled conditions. The company also creates social impact by introducting new jobs in rural areas which providing a second and diversified income stream to pineapple farmers. The company also claims that the production does not use any water, any land or fertilizers, which makes its carbon footprint less than more textiles.

Story

Founder Dr. Carmen Hijosa has a background in leathergoods design and was consulting for various brands in Europe. was consulting on the Philippines leather export industry in the 1990’s and was shocked at the environmental impact of mass leather production and chemical tanning. Inspired by the abundance of natural resources, including the use of plant fibers in traditional weaving such as the delicate Barong Tagalog garments, Carmen sought to create a new, non-woven textile that could be commercially produced, provide positive social and economic impact and maintain a low environmental footprint throughout its life cycle. (Source) This led to the founding of Ananas Anam.

Pic Credit: Reflow Project (right) and Ananas Anam (top)