Know All About Pinatex- The Pineapple Based Leather

Did you know that leather could be made from fruit?

Surprised? Well, don’t be.

You read it right. We are talking about Pinatex- a sustainable leather made using pineapple leaves. It is a natural leather alternative made from cellulose fibres extracted from pineapple leaves, PLA, and petroleum-based resin.

 

Why Pinatex?

The pineapple industry globally produces 40,000 tonnes of waste pineapple leaves each year, which are usually left to rot or are burned.

On the other hand, the use of pineapple leaf, an agricultural waste product, provides an opportunity to develop farming communities with minimal environmental impact.

It is produced partially from a waste product that requires no additional land, water, pesticides or fertilizers.

 

Impact of leather on environment:

Leather has a very heavy impact on the environment and also involves a lot of animal cruelty.

Extensive rearing of livestock for leather, is linked to a lot of environmental problems like deforestation, water and land overuse, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Forests are cleared for ranching animals- which is a major reason for climate change.

Tanning or the method of preserving the leather is one of the most toxic methods. Most of production using chromium for tanning. Hides are doused in drums of water, chromium salts and tanning liquor to stop them decomposing and to give a supple, colour-fast leather. 

The by-products of tanning are very harmful, most importantly, carcinogenic chromium.

Now it’s up to you. Make the choice carefully.