Funding period: November 2020 - July 2021 Funding type: Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) Funded by: UKRI: Innovate UK - Sustainable Innovation FundLead partner: Ananas Anam Ltd
During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic it was reported that 53 million face masks were being thrown away every day in the UK.
This project proposed the use of pineapple leaf fibres to be used to produce new textiles for biodegradable hygienic wipes and reusable masks as a positive climate-friendly alternative to existing synthetic options.
By embedding life-cycle assessment into the innovation process at Ananas Anam, design researchers from Chelsea College of Arts assessed the environmental impact of different elements being considered for the development of a new commercial product called Piñayarn.
This helped inform design decisions by highlighting how end-of-life routes would be affected by product specifications, processing methods and material choices.