Piñatex (pineapple fibre)
Also known as: Pineapple leather, Pinatex
Leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fibres — presented in 2015 by Carmen Hijosa, produced by Ananas Anam.
Description
Piñatex is a non-woven material made from pineapple leaf fibres, presented in 2015 by Spanish designer Dr Carmen Hijosa after years of research at the Royal College of Art in London. About 480 leaves from 16 pineapple plants are needed for one square metre. The fibres are a by-product of the pineapple harvest and are bonded with roughly 20 % polylactic acid (PLA) and a petroleum-based resin coating.
Piñatex is used for shoes, bags, accessories and upholstery — brands such as Hugo Boss, Puma and Camper have worked with it. Despite strong sustainability messaging, Piñatex is not fully biodegradable because of its petrochemical coating. Manufacturer Ananas Anam entered administration in late 2025, making the brand's future uncertain.
- Non-woven of roughly 80 % pineapple leaf fibre plus PLA and coating
- Uses agricultural residue without additional land use
- Leather look with a much lower carbon footprint than chrome-tanned leather
- Not fully biodegradable — the resin coating is petroleum-based
Properties
| Fibre type | Non-woven of pineapple leaf fibre + PLA |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philippines (fibre), Spain (Ananas Anam) |
| Application | Shoes, bags, accessories, upholstery |
| Sustainability | By-product based, but not fully biodegradable |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Piñatex Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%B1atex
