The Carbon Closet welcomes you back to our weekly vegan-leather report. We encourage the use of vegan and sustainable materials that don’t cost your style, or the planet. Our platform is at the forefront of innovative and eco-friendly fashion, paving the way for a stylish and sustainable future. After exploring the potentials of mushroom and cactus leather, today we head over to the Philippines to investigate Pinatex- the leading manufacturer of pineapple leather! We will be discussing the production, benefits and drawbacks of this fruity fabric.
Production
Pineapple leather- or Pinatex, developed by Ananas Anam in industry- is created from waste pineapple leaves which are felted into a non-woven fabric before being mixed with polylactic acid (PLA) and then coated in a resin to form a strong, yet breathable leather alternative. Whereas the leathers previously explored are solely plant-derived, Pinatex relies on PLA and resin to from the final fabrics, which means that it may not be as ecological as it initially appears.
Benefits
Even with some questions as to how sustainable the production process is, the fabric still has no animal products involved, keeping it securely under the vegan and cruelty-free category. Other positives include:
1) Reduction in waste
Pinatex focuses on using leaves from pineapples that have been harvested and begin their own journey in production. These waste leaves would otherwise be burnt or end up in landfill.
2) Sustainability from the start
Before the pineapples have even been yielded, the growth of the plant requires no pesticides and no extra water or fertiliser to make the leaves suitable for fabric production.
3) Positive pineapple properties
Pinatex is easily dyeable, breathable, more pliable than other vegan-leathers and can take on a range of textures to suit a variety of products.
Drawbacks
There are some drawbacks to pineapple leather that ecological readers have probably picked up on already, however, we like to remind you that these negatives are not without solutions or opportunity for improvement.
1) Pineapples plus plastic
Polylactic Acid is a bioplastic. This means that it has derived from a renewable source, such as sugar cane or cornstarch. The addition of this ingredient means that Pinatex is not naturally biodegradable, however since PLA is a bioplastic, it is compostable under certain industrial composting conditions.
2) Problematic pineapple properties
As is the case with materials from any source, there will be some properties and characteristics that mean certain products do not suit this fabric. In the case of pineapple leather, it may not be as durable as other leathers, and in correlation, not as long-lasting.
3) Energy intensive production
The process of producing Pinatex requires a lot of machinery work to felt the leaves into the desired texture. After this, the crafted crops are then shipped from the Philippines to Spain in order to complete their manufacturing, racking up a high number of carbon mileage.
Production
Pineapple leather- or Pinatex, developed by Ananas Anam in industry- is created from waste pineapple leaves which are felted into a non-woven fabric before being mixed with polylactic acid (PLA) and then coated in a resin to form a strong, yet breathable leather alternative. Whereas the leathers previously explored are solely plant-derived, Pinatex relies on PLA and resin to from the final fabrics, which means that it may not be as ecological as it initially appears.
Benefits
Even with some questions as to how sustainable the production process is, the fabric still has no animal products involved, keeping it securely under the vegan and cruelty-free category. Other positives include:
1) Reduction in waste
Pinatex focuses on using leaves from pineapples that have been harvested and begin their own journey in production. These waste leaves would otherwise be burnt or end up in landfill.
2) Sustainability from the start
Before the pineapples have even been yielded, the growth of the plant requires no pesticides and no extra water or fertiliser to make the leaves suitable for fabric production.
3) Positive pineapple properties
Pinatex is easily dyeable, breathable, more pliable than other vegan-leathers and can take on a range of textures to suit a variety of products.
Drawbacks
There are some drawbacks to pineapple leather that ecological readers have probably picked up on already, however, we like to remind you that these negatives are not without solutions or opportunity for improvement.
1) Pineapples plus plastic
Polylactic Acid is a bioplastic. This means that it has derived from a renewable source, such as sugar cane or cornstarch. The addition of this ingredient means that Pinatex is not naturally biodegradable, however since PLA is a bioplastic, it is compostable under certain industrial composting conditions.
2) Problematic pineapple properties
As is the case with materials from any source, there will be some properties and characteristics that mean certain products do not suit this fabric. In the case of pineapple leather, it may not be as durable as other leathers, and in correlation, not as long-lasting.
3) Energy intensive production
The process of producing Pinatex requires a lot of machinery work to felt the leaves into the desired texture. After this, the crafted crops are then shipped from the Philippines to Spain in order to complete their manufacturing, racking up a high number of carbon mileage.
Start your sustainable fashion journey today
To conclude, Pinatex is a highly creative and sustainable solution to unethical animal-based leathers. Whereas there are some initial concerns around energy and plastic usage, it is worth remembering that energy can easily be sustainably sourced, and that bioplastics have the capacity to be manually biodegraded.
The Carbon Closet proudly displays such a range of products from any sustainable source that suits you- even pineapple leather! We’re excited to watch the world open their eyes to the global crisis at hand and further explore dinner-table textiles.
We’d love you to join us on the journey towards the sustainable future of fashion. Visit our website for amazing products and sign up to out newsletter for more information.
Here is the hint for next week’s leather source:
It gives you a boost in the morning!
Pop back here to read more!
To conclude, Pinatex is a highly creative and sustainable solution to unethical animal-based leathers. Whereas there are some initial concerns around energy and plastic usage, it is worth remembering that energy can easily be sustainably sourced, and that bioplastics have the capacity to be manually biodegraded.
The Carbon Closet proudly displays such a range of products from any sustainable source that suits you- even pineapple leather! We’re excited to watch the world open their eyes to the global crisis at hand and further explore dinner-table textiles.
We’d love you to join us on the journey towards the sustainable future of fashion. Visit our website for amazing products and sign up to out newsletter for more information.
Here is the hint for next week’s leather source:
It gives you a boost in the morning!
Pop back here to read more!
