EMEA Entrepreneur. Dr. Carmen Hijosa, Founder, Ananas Anam. Today, the world is driven by environmental necessity, economic reasons, regulatory requirements, consumer expectations, ethical values, investor demands, technological advancements, and global cooperation, all promoting the adoption of sustainability measures. These factors strongly encourage industries to integrate sustainability into their core strategies and operations. Like in London, a Certified B-Corporation textile manufacturing company called Ananas Anam follows a circular economy principle to drive social and environmental impacts through a transparent supply chain operation that is traceable throughout its product’s lifecycle. By combining research and innovation, the Founder, Dr. Carmen Hijosa leads this sustainable and circular textile manufacturing business in leather alternatives. The leaves collected from the agricultural wastes of harvested Pineapples are primarily used in the manufacturing stage by a proprietary method to process the leaves for extracting Anam PALF® (Pineapple Leaf Fiber) to produce Piñayarn® and quality product Piñatex®. A leather alternative that is biodegradable and eco-friendly, Ananas Anam in sustainable textiles manufacturing sources 100% raw material naturally found and made from virgin fibers.
Therefore, let’s delve into this article which explores the journey of Pioneering Entrepreneurship of Founder – Dr. Carmen Hijosa, and her business Ananas Anam in the Textiles Manufacturing Industry.
Dr. Carmen Hijosa – The Journey of Ananas Anam, Recognizing the Problem:
Ananas Anam was established in 2012 by Dr. Carmen Hijosa in Pineapple textile manufacturing, but the journey in research and development for sustainable leather alternatives began a long time ago in the 1990s. Carmen – a leather goods expert and professional in textiles and natural fibers was in the Philippines by the Design Center Philippines consulting on the leather export industry at the time. The founder was left distraught on discovering how much the mass-produced and exported leather and the chemical tanning processes left behind a huge environmental impact. “Design is not just about product,” says Carmen, but really “Design is about responsibility”.
Addressing the Global Environmental Problem:
The founder envisioned connecting with people, ecology, and economics to create an entirely new industry that is both socially and environmentally responsible. Therefore, by combining research and development with advanced technology over the years, Ananas Anam was finally established with its head office in London, UK, and its operations in the Philippines. Carmen successfully and sustainably found a leather alternative solution to address the global environmental challenge and problem in the mass production of leather and the polluting synthetic materials used in the process. Ananas Anam aims to “meet the challenges of our times by developing innovative products in which commercial success is integrated with and promotes social, ecological, and cultural development.” Therefore, proprietary products – Piñayarn® and Piñatex® were produced from the leaves of Pineapples of the existing fruit harvest.
The Manufacturing Process:
The manufacturing process of Piñayarn® and Piñatex® at Ananas Anam is operated in the Philippines. Built on Circular Economy principles and Cradle to Cradle values, the company is on a mission to provide a better leather choice and alternative to the world for better sustainable futures. Through repurposing agricultural wastes of Pineapple leaves and transforming them into natural textiles, Dr. Carmen Hijosa paved the way for a pioneering change in the industry by supporting efforts of brands and other textile industries in the reduction of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases to ensure that they meet sustainability goals and climate control.
The manufacturing process of this sustainable vegan leather alternative using Pineapples – Piñatex®, is a traceable supply chain operation that starts in the Philippines and ends in London, UK. The first step or phase in the manufacturing process involves the collection of Pineapple leaves from already existing fruit harvests. Then the extraction step includes the long fiber material separated from the Pineapple leaves, using semi-automatic machines. These fibers are collected in bundles and then washed thoroughly and sun-dried. Later the bundles are passed through a purification process to remove any remaining impurities thereby ensuring a fluff-like material is achieved. This fluff-like material is called Anam PALF® (Pineapple Leaf Fiber).
The PALF is then made to undergo a mechanical process where the fibers are combined and mixed with corn-based PLA (polylactic acid) to produce Piñafelt (non-woven mesh which is the base form of all Piñatex® products). Then this produced mixture is collected and gathered into rolls of Piñafelt which is then shipped from the Philippines to Spain or Italy in Europe for final finishing. The Piñafelt is then stained or completely colored with pigments that are GOTS Certified (Global Organic Textile Standard Certified) and then resin-coated for added durability, strength, and water-resistant properties. After a last round of foil heat press and a polyurethane coating, the final product – Piñatex® is now fit to be sold as fashion, upholstery, and accessories in local, domestic, and international markets.
Various well-reputed brands like H&M and Hugo Boss around the world import and use Ananas Anam’s sustainable leather alternative in their textile and fashion industries.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Ananas Anam in the Industry:
“Design is a connecting tool between people, economics and the environment – and out of this communion, understanding and respect new ideas and products with integrity can come about.” – Dr. Carmen Hijosa, Founder of Ananas Anam.
The Piñatex® and Piñayarn® premium textile-grade products and fibers are used primarily in manufacturing sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable fashion & apparel, fashion accessories, footwear, watch bands, bags, upholstery, and furnishing. With reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water and energy-efficient usage, zero-harmful chemicals used, traceable fiber, recyclable, and compostable, and less land space used, the environmental impacts are significantly reduced. With every unbent Piñatex® produced 12kgs of CO2 emission is prevented, and from every kilogram of Piñayarn® produced 6kgs of CO2 emission is prevented. This B-Corporation Certified textile manufacturing business is the industry’s impactful eco-innovation.
Ananas Anam leaves a significant social impact empowering the people involved throughout the entire supply chain operation in the Philippines. By creating new job opportunities, supporting farming cooperatives, and offering a diversified income to Pineapple farmers, Anamas Anam today is aimed at extending support to more Pineapple farmers across the globe facilitating local economies, and reinforcing export streams.
Now, a thriving and flourishing business after receiving its first funding from the Greater London Investment Fund in 2021 for €250,000. By using sustainable proprietary methods and repurposed agricultural waste by-products to transform them into biodegradable and eco-friendly natural textiles by Dr. Carmen Hijosa, the environmental impacts left by Ananas Anam in the textile manufacturing industry and on the world is a positive and fruitful venture, fostering change towards achieving brighter futures.