Pangea introduces leather alternatives from agave and avocado waste
In Missouri, biobased leather maker Pangea has expanded its business with the launch of four new sustainable products: Ecoda Agave, Ecoda Avocado, Vendura Agave and Vendura Avocado. These chrome (Ecoda) and chrome-free (Vendura) leather solutions upcycle massive volumes of discarded agave leaves and avocado pits from Mexico.
The agave industry harvests an estimated 2.4 million metric tons of agave piña hearts annually, with roughly 40–46% of each plant’s weight cut away and discarded at harvest. Now collected for production, every kilogram of agave leaves yields 1.5 kg of biopolymer mixture. Mexico’s avocado production creates up to 530,000 metric tons of pit waste annually. These pits are now milled, hydrolyzed with heat and water, and converted into biopolymers rich in natural tannins and polyphenolics.
“By partnering with local chemical industry and Mexican agricultural communities, we’ve blended cultural heritage with cutting-edge science to transform waste into high-quality leather products that are better for the planet—and for people,” Roger Pinto, Director of Sustainability & Innovation at Pangea, said in a press statement.
Category: Chemicals & Materials
