Nowadays, we are very aware of our environmental impact and our choices as consumers. We want to know what we buy so we can consume better. We are looking for vegan, ecological, ethical options, etc. It is not always easy to make an informed choice.

If I tell you that you can make “leather” with apples and pineapples, do you believe me? Well, these are the materials we use at SANANA. This allows us to offer “vegan leather” without animal cruelty and an ecological option in the market. Here's what to know about these subjects:

PINATEX (PINEAPPLE LEATHER)

This vegan leather is made from fibers extracted from pineapple leaves that are left in the fields after the fruit is picked. Otherwise, they would be thrown away and create production waste. Their use to create leather
vegan reduces waste and promotes more efficient use of resources. Since the fruit is eaten, the leaves do not require additional pesticides and chemicals. The company from Spain harvests the pineapple leaves and then extracts the fibers from the leaves to make the base of the material.

Its particularities:

• It stands out for its unique texture, flexibility and durability. In addition, it is a very light material which allows us to make really light bags. (We like that !)
• It is lightweight, breathable and can be used in making bags, shoes, clothing and fashion accessories.
• Piñatex has a positive environmental impact, as it uses renewable materials and avoids the use of toxic chemicals.

APPLESKIN (APPLE LEATHER)

AppleSkin, also known as apple leather, is a vegan and eco-friendly alternative to animal leather. It is made in Italy from apple waste from the food industry. We are talking here about apple cores and peels not used for the production of apple juice, compotes, etc. These otherwise discarded parts of the apple are reused and powdered.
This powder is then mixed with a water-based binder to create a sort of paste, which is then spread into a thin layer and covered with a fabric liner.

Its particularities:

• AppleSkin features a texture and appearance similar to animal leather, providing a vegan alternative without compromising style or quality.
• It has a smoother texture than Pinatex. It is also very light!
• Apple leather can be used in making bags, shoes, clothing and fashion accessories.
• It is water resistant, durable and easy to maintain.

According to the producers of Appleskin, “The carbon footprint of polyurethane is 5.28 Kg CO2 eq/Kg PU, in comparison the recovered waste has no impact. Therefore, every kg of apple residue used to replace PU means 5.28 kg of CO2 saved.” https://mabelindustries.com/index.php/appleskin/

Obviously, we have tested these two vegan leathers for over 2 years now! They are very durable, allowing you to keep your handbag for a very long time (a good investment). I've had mine for over 2 years and it's still flawless. They are resistant to our climate, that is to say, water, heat and cold.

Little anecdote: we put the apple leather and the pineapple leather in
the freezer for 24 hours and they came out soft, so your handbag won't break in the cold of winter!

In short, these companies are based on a circular economy model where everything is
recovered to recreate materials. They are always looking for new processes to offer even more ecological options. We share the same vision when we produce our bags. We make sure to recover, to offer a vegan and ecological option and above all to offer quality. The two alternatives, AppleSkin and Piñatex, are examples of innovative and sustainable materials that make it possible to create vegan leather products without exploiting animals. They offer eco-friendly and ethical options for consumers
concerned about the environment and animal welfare.

- Melody