Among innovative eco-friendly materials, there's one that tends to surprise people: Pineappleskin
A first-rate alternative to animal leather, Pineappleskin (also called Piñatex®) was developed by Carmen Hijosa, a leather specialist.
How is this pineapple-based material made?
Pineappleskin comes from pineapple leaf fibres. After harvesting, the leaves are gathered into bundles from which the long fibres are extracted. These are then dried and mixed with polylactic acid, before finally being turned into a mesh. This mesh is then dyed with GOTS-certified pigments, and a resin coating boosts the durability of the resulting material.
Why is it eco-friendly?
Piñatex is a material made from the waste generated by pineapple farming. Unlike traditional leather, the raw material isn't of animal origin, so it causes little or no pollution.
Pineappleskin is an excellent alternative to animal leather, but also to other so-called vegan materials, which are sometimes nothing more than... plastic!
Considered softer than traditional leather, Piñatex is used to make shoes and bags, but also watch straps and even seats!
Here's the detailed composition of Pinatex: 72% pineapple leaf fibres, 18% PLA (Polylactic Acid = a polymer made from corn starch, biodegradable in industrial composting at temperatures above 60°C) and 10% polyurethane.
