Dole Packaged Foods, one of the world’s largest producers of fruit and vegetables, has joined forces with Rais Case, a circular design brand from Southern California, and Ananas Anam, the creator of plant-based material Piñatex.
This collaborative effort aims to repurpose organic waste into functional fashion accessories, beginning with a limited-edition Vida Bag crafted from Piñatex, a vegan leather alternative derived from pineapple leaf fibers sourced from Dole Philippines farms.
“When companies come together, we can create beautiful change to help support people and our planet”
Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Dole Packaged Foods, Americas, Orzse Hodi, spoke on the significance of waste reduction efforts, stating, “For every ton of pineapples harvested, three tons of pineapple leaves are discarded, making it our job to find ways to reduce and repurpose our waste as much as we can. In addition to using the discarded leaves as fertilizer, partners like Ananas Anam and Rais Case help us find beautiful solutions to reduce waste in a meaningful, unique way.”
Dole originally partnered with plant-based textile company Ananas Anam back in 2021 to supply pineapple plant leaves from the production of the company’s Piñatex material, made from fibers extracted after the leaves are dried and processed.
The following year, Dole received the Grand Prix for Creative Business Transformation at the Cannes Lions Awards, honoring their partnership. Since then, Piñatex has been used by global lifestyle brands such as Nike, Hugo Boss, H&M, Paul Smith, and the Hilton Hotel London Bankside, which featured it in the world’s first vegan suite.
Circular design principles
Utilizing the principles of circular design, Rais Case is committed to crafting durable and timeless accessories while minimizing environmental impact. Julie Rais Ellis, founder of Rais Case, explained the alignment of Piñatex with the company’s ethos: “Circular design is always top of mind for Rais Case. We are constantly trying to find ways to create durable, timeless, repairable goods that generate zero waste and support a circular economy.”
Beginning-to-end intention
Rais Ellis continued, “When we discovered Piñatex®, we felt it really resonated with our values: taking organic waste and making it into a durable leather alternative. This is a bag to feel proud to carry because of the beginning-to-end intention that went into it: from sourcing the pineapple leaves to the transformation to Piñatex®, and the design that went into handcrafting these bags.”
Piñatex represents a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based textiles. Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder and chief creative and innovation officer of Ananas Anam, noted, “These types of collaborations like ours with Dole and Rais Case are so important on this journey to improving our planet and the lives of people. Dole is a critical partner for us in sourcing fibers to begin the textile-making process. When companies come together, we can create beautiful change to help support people and our planet.”
