Piñatex facts for kids
Piñatex fabric in white
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| Type | Fabric |
|---|---|
| Material | Pineapple leaf and PLA |
| Production method | Felting |
| Production process | Mechanized |
| Introduced | 2015 |
| Manufacturer | Ananas Anam |
Piñatex is a special material that looks and feels like leather. But it's not made from animal skin! Instead, it's created from the strong fibres found in pineapple leaves. It also contains a plant-based plastic called PLA and a small amount of petroleum-based resin.
This cool material was invented by Carmen Hijosa. She first showed it off at an exhibition in London. Her company, Ananas Anam Ltd., now makes and sells Piñatex around the world.
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How Piñatex Was Created
The idea for Piñatex started in the 1990s. Carmen Hijosa was working in the leather industry in the Philippines. She noticed that the leather made there wasn't very good. It was also bad for the environment and dangerous for workers.
Carmen was inspired by a traditional Philippine shirt called the barong tagalog. This shirt is made from pineapple fibres. She then spent seven years developing Piñatex. She worked with universities and companies to perfect her new material.
Making Piñatex
Piñatex is made by pressing together long fibres from pineapple leaves. This creates a soft, non-woven material. A plant-based plastic called PLA is added to this material. PLA comes from things like cornstarch.
The final material is about 80% pineapple leaf fibre and 20% PLA. Then, a special coating made from petroleum-based resin is added.
This process uses waste pineapple leaves. Pineapple farms produce huge amounts of waste leaves every year. These leaves are usually left to rot or are burned. About 480 leaves are needed to make one square metre of Piñatex. This is the waste from about 16 pineapple plants.
Farmers can separate the long fibres from the leaves. This gives them extra money. The leftover parts of the leaves can even be used as fertiliser. Making Piñatex does not need extra water, pesticides, or fertilisers. It also avoids using harmful chemicals found in some leather processes.
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Workers separating fibres from pineapple leaves.
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Pineapple fibres drying in the sun.
What Piñatex Is Like
Piñatex comes in many colours and styles. It can have a textured surface or even a metallic shine. People say it feels softer and more flexible than other fake leathers.
Designers can cut, stitch, and decorate Piñatex easily. This makes it great for many different products. The material is mostly pineapple fibres and PLA. This means it does not break down easily in nature.
Is Piñatex Sustainable?
Piñatex is made from pineapple leaves, which are a waste product. This is a good thing for the environment. It also uses PLA, a plastic made from plants. PLA is often called "biodegradable."
However, Piñatex also contains petroleum-based resins. This means the whole material is not fully biodegradable. The United Nations Environment Programme has said that "biodegradable" plastics might not solve the problem of plastic pollution in oceans.
What Piñatex Is Used For
Piñatex is used to make many different items. You can find it in bags, shoes, wallets, and even watch bands. It is also being developed for use in clothing.
Some famous brands have used Piñatex in their products. These include Ally Capellino, LIAN & LIV, and ROMBAUT. Big companies like Puma and Camper have also made test products with it. A vegan shoe company called Bourgeois Boheme uses Piñatex in their sandals.
Awards and Recognition
Piñatex has won awards for being an innovative material. In 2016, it won the Arts Foundation UK award for Material Innovation. Carmen Hijosa was also a finalist for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards in 2015.
Piñatex is approved by PETA. This means it is a certified vegan fashion material.
Piñatex was even mentioned in a book! It appeared in L.J.M. Owen's book, Egyptian Enigma. A journal made with Piñatex was given to the main character in the story.
