Ananas Anam is a UK company known for its innovative approach to sustainable materials. The company specializes in Piňatex®, a sustainable alternative to textiles made from pineapple leaf fibers. Piňatex® offers low impact textile solutions that helps brands and industries to reduce their emissions and achieve their climate and sustainability goals.
The process of producing fibers begins after the pineapple harvests when the leftover plant leaves are collected. These leaves are bundled, and long fibers are extracted using semi-automatic machines. The fibers are then washed and dried -- either sun-dried or in drying ovens during the rainy season. Once dried, the fibers undergo a purification process to remove impurities, resulting in a fluff-like material. The pineapple leaf fiber is mixed with a corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) and undergoes a mechanical process to create Piňafelt, a non-woven mesh that forms the base of all Piňatex products. The finished rolls are shipped by boat from the Philipines to Spain or Italy for specialized finishing. Piňafelt is colored using GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) certified pigments and a resin top coating to enhance strength, durability, and water resistance.
Piňatex is versatile and suitable for use in fashion, accessories, and upholstery. It has been used by brands such as Hugo Boss, H&M, and the Hilton Hotel Bankside and has been featured in Vogue, The Huffington Post, Business of Fashion, and Wired Magazine, etc.
