(R.SQUARE):BIG CONCEPT ABOUT PINEAPPLE LEATHER.

 WHO  DEVELOPMENT  PINEAPPLE

 LEATHER?

Generally, we can say pinatex is artificial leather, it is an alternative to natural leather which is made from cellulose fibers extracted from pineapple leaves. Dr. Carmen Hijosa and first presented at the Ph.D. graduate exhibition at the Royal College of Art.  She spent seven years developing the product through a Ph.D. at the Royal College of Art in London.

PRODUCTION

HOW IS PINEAPPLE LEATHER MADE?

Fibers are removed from the leaves during a cycle called decoration, which drives the cultivation community to plant trees. In addition, the by-product of decoration is biomass, which can be changed into organic compost or biogas.

                    After the fiber from the pineapple, leaves are decorticated and washed the farmers hang it up to dry.

The extracted fibers are washed and dried. After the fibers have dried, they are degraded (pectin comes out of the fiber). Pectin is the molecule that hardens the leaves. Once the pectin is removed the pineapple fiber becomes soft and supple, like a cotton-like material.

Thereafter, the fibers become a non-woven mesh by stinging thousands of needles into the fibers in an industrial, mechanical process to produce a felt-like structure. This process creates the base of Piñatex leather.

Piñatex is created by felting the long fibers from pineapple leaves. Each year the pineapple industry worldwide produces 40,000 tonnes of waste pineapple leaves, which are usually left to rot or are burned, now Dr. Hijosa’s manufactured and distributed company Ananas Anam Ltd these pineapple leaves are processed in Spain where the unique finish is applied. The manufacturer’s main office is located in London, England, a company called Ananas Anam.

                                                Making Piñatex, decorticating pineapple leaves.

Approximately 480 leaves (the waste from 16 pineapple plants) are needed to create 1 square meter of material. Philippine pineapple farmers get more income to separate long leaf fibers.

Actually, pineapple leather is a non-woven textile material which is looks and feels like leather, although it is not made from animal hides. It is made from a combination of natural fibers from pineapple leaves and a combination of plastic and resin, it’s called Pinatex. These Products produced by any animal are not used in its production.

Pinatex generally requires occasional re-waxing with a clear wax to help maintain the surface finish. Now -a day’s Pineapple leather is being used for many goods including shoes, boots, automobile upholstery, furniture upholstery, bags, belts, and personal accessories.

SUSTAINABILITY

Frankly speaking, pineapple leather is not biodegradable. It is created of a combination of pineapple leaves, PLA (Polylactic acid), and petroleum-based resins.  Piñatex is made from 72% pineapple leaf fiber and 18% PLA (Polylactic Acid) and is biodegradable under controlled industry conditions.

Pineapple skin is strong, durable, supple, lightweight, and breathable. It can do most of the work that regular skin can do but it has only been for a short time, so the longevity of the material has not yet been proven.

WHAT  PRODUCTS CAN BE MADE 

WITH PINEAPPLE  LEATHER?

It is currently being used by various fashion design companies. Nowadays, the fashion industry is very keen to find and use materials that have less environmental impact.

Now you can buy shoes, bags, strips, furniture and various fashion items, all of which are made in Pinatex.

Author-M.zaman(RASEL)