Pineapple leaves turn into fabrics in Zhanjiang

Pineapple leaves, once discarded as agricultural waste, are being transformed into high-end fabrics in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, bolstering local agriculture and rural revitalization efforts. This innovative approach not only creates valuable textiles but also addresses environmental concerns.

Li Puwang, director of the Agricultural Machinery Research Institute with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, highlighted the superior qualities of pineapple leaf fiber. "Pineapple leaf fiber is a natural textile material with excellent properties, boasting good market prospects with unique advantages in natural sterilization, deodorization, mite repelling, strong moisture absorption and release, good thermal conductivity, softness and delicacy," Li said.

Products such as shirts, socks, towels, underwear and cooling mats made from pineapple leaf fibers have already found favor with consumers in the local market. Beyond textiles, the residual pineapple leaves can be repurposed into safe animal feed, eco-friendly fertilizers and renewable energy, according to Li.