ABOUT

In Sustrato we transform agroindustrial waste into biomaterials that can be used to develop sustainable products. We achieve this thanks to a multidisciplinary process that connects the local crops with creative and innovative methodologies, as well as local infrastructure and knowledge.

This project started as an academic exploration based on the research and analysis of agro-industrial waste in Mexico, which aims to develop new alternatives for their management and use. This also involves the development of sustainable products to show the value of organic residues.

This project makes use of ancient knowledge and techniques for material production, which can be applied in the manufacture of biomaterials. We are focused on the usage of pineapple leaves, as they represent the main residue of pineapple production and 75% of the harvested product. For the development process, we used leaves from Ciudad Isla, Veracruz as a raw material since it is one of the main pineapple-producing regions in Mexico.

Through the experimentation, we developed 4 biomaterials (felt, bioplastic, agglomerated boards and rope) made out of pineapple leaf fibre and bagasse, as well as some applications made out of those materials.