Piñatex® leather from pineapple leaf fibre

Piñatex® is an innovative textile that was developed for use as a sustainable alternative to both mass-produced leather and polluting synthetic materials, offering a better choice for a better future.  Piñatex is an eco-friendly material made of pineapple leaves fibres. The microfibres used for the lining are hypoallergenic, antibacterial and antimicrobial, preventing the development of odours.

The Manufacturing Process

After pineapple harvest, the suitable plant leaves which are left behind are collected in bundles and the long fibres are extracted using semi-automatic machines. The fibres are washed then dried naturally by the sun, or during the rainy season in drying ovens. The dry fibres go through a purification process to remove any impurities which results in a fluff-like material. This fluff-like pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) gets mixed with a corn based polylactic acid (PLA) and undergoes a mechanical process to create Piñafelt, a non-woven mesh which forms the base of all Piñatex collections.

The rolls of Piñafelt are then shipped by boat from the Philippines to Spain or Italy for specialised finishing.

It is this unique process that gives Piñatex® a leather-like appearance, creating a textile product that is soft and flexible, but very durable. The final textile product is distributed directly to designers, who use it as a viable alternative to leather in shoes and fashion accessories, clothing and interior furniture.

BENEFITS PIÑATEX^®

Piñatex® addresses these issues as a sustainably sourced textile, made from a natural waste product, created low water use and low production waste, containing no harmful chemicals or animal products.

• No additional environmental resources required for raw material.
• No chemicals on the Cradle2cradle list of banned substances used in production.
• Closed loop production – residual leaf biomass is used as natural fertilizer/biofuel.
• Non-woven mesh is biodegradable.