Professor Thomas Gries from RWTH Aachen University in Germany has introduced a research project focusing on using pineapple fibres in making clothes. This project aims to study 100 different types of pineapples from Colombia and Thailand to better understand their qualities. PiñaFibre is getting funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research through Project Management Jülich – PTJ, which will help promote sustainable practices in the clothing industry.

The PiñaFibre project aims to turn plant waste, specifically pineapple leaves, into eco-friendly fibres for the clothing industry. By doing this, they want to create a chain where bio-based materials can be used effectively. The project will involve making and evaluating different resources like coated fibres and yarns made from pineapple leaf fibres (PALF), focusing on their characteristics, how they fit into the production process, and if they are practical for the market.

There is already a lot of interest from people in Germany in using PALF as a sustainable material for making textiles and composite materials. PALF also offers a way for farmers in tropical areas to earn extra money by growing pineapples, which are resistant to drought. Farmers can sell the fruit locally or for export and use the leaves for industrial purposes.

To make sure that pineapple production is sustainable, the project will help develop new types of pineapples through breeding programs. They will also develop methods to understand the physical and genetic traits of pineapples and find genetic markers linked to traits that are important economically. This will help breeders focus on growing pineapples that are good for both eating and making fibres, which will benefit different groups involved.