According to the UN’s Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), next to the oil industry, leather production is one of the most polluting sectors in the world. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, for every ton of pineapples harvested, 3 tons get wasted. How are the two related? It turns out the answer to leather’s carbon problem might be found on pineapple leaves. Dole, one of the largest producers of pineapples in the world, partnered with textile company Ananas Anam to produce Piñatex: a vegan, sustainable alternative to leather, made from the fiber of pineapple leaves that would otherwise have gone to waste. This revolutionary idea had several positive impacts: bringing job creation and socio-economic stability to rural areas of the Philippines, and diversifying income streams for producers. Piñatex has gone on to become a best practice case, with over 200 brands in more than 80 countries now using the material to be more sustainable, including Hugo Boss, H&M and Nike, who used Piñatex to create their ‘Happy Pineapple’ sneaker drop.
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