The Philippines is one of the world's major pineapple producers, but what happens to the leaves after the fruit is harvested? Usually, they're left behind as farm waste. The Design Center of the Philippines has been turning those leaves into something useful, and the results are surprisingly stylish.
Meet pinyapel®
In 2018, the Design Center gathered farmers, pulp processors and paper and packaging manufacturers to figure out what could be done with pineapple leaves. The answer was pinyapel®, a specialty paper made from locally sourced and processed pineapple leaves.
The project quickly got international attention. In 2019, pinyapel® won a D&AD Future Impact Award, which recognizes creative projects tackling major global challenges. That gave it the push to move from experiment toward industrial production.
Beyond paper
pinyapel® has since grown far beyond specialty paper. The material can be lightweight, breathable and comfortable, which suits life in the tropics. You'll now find it in:
- Footwear: The Lakat shoe line offers a soft, breathable feel while staying durable for everyday wear. It's one of 10 finalists at the Seoul Design Award 2026.
- Furniture: Chairs by OMO Furniture
- Lighting and décor: Lamps by Tadeco Home and accent pieces by Oro Handmade Innovations
- Packaging: Including food-contact grade containers and servers
pinyapel®-based products are also moving from trade shows into pop-ups and retail stores, so they're becoming easier to actually buy.
Building the industry
To boost visibility, the Design Center launched the pinyapel® Flagship Project at the Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX), created by CITEM Philippines. It also partnered with the DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group on a pinyapel® Investors Forum to pitch a green pulp facility as an investment.
SSX 2026 ran from October 15 to 17 at the Philippine Trade Training Center, featuring 10 product development partners curated by guest creative director Stanley Ruiz.
The bigger picture: a pulp mill in Mindanao
The next big step is a pulp mill in Mindanao, near the pineapple plantations. Identified by the Global Green Growth Institute and the Korea International Cooperation Agency as part of an agricultural waste-to-biomaterials project, it would process 20 metric tons of non-wood pulp from pineapple leaves daily.
Once built, thousands of pineapple farmers stand to earn extra income from leaves that were once thrown away.
Why I love this story
It's a proudly Filipino design story: local farmers, local craftspeople and local manufacturers turning waste into products with a distinctly Pinoy origin. The next time you shop for home décor or gifts, look out for pinyapel®.
Learn more at pinyapel.carrd.co, or email info@designcenter.gov.ph or pinyapel@designcenter.gov.ph.
Post a Comment
0Comments