Renault’s Ampere division has unveiled the Emblème demo car, highlighting the innovative use of sustainable materials to tackle climate change and support resource conservation.
The car features door panels and a center console upholstered in Piñatex, a plant-based leather, while the dashboard is upholstered with linen sourced locally from Normandy, France. These materials support Renault’s mission to significantly cut the vehicle’s carbon footprint while preserving comfort, style, and functionality.
Piñatex is made from waste generated by pineapple production, providing a cruelty-free alternative to animal leather. The pineapple industry produces around 40,000 tons of leaves annually. Normally discarded or burned, these leaves are repurposed by Piñatex into a sustainable material without harming animals.
Ananas Anam, the manufacturer, uses about 480 leaves, about 16 pineapple plants’ worth, to produce each square meter of Piñatex. Since it’s derived from agricultural waste, Piñatex doesn’t require extra land, water, pesticides, or fertilizers. Its production avoids toxic chemicals, making it safer for both humans and the environment. It also supports job creation and boosts local economies in pineapple-producing regions.
The process generates virtually no material waste, and the leftover chemical-free biomass is reused as fertilizer on local farms.
Piñatex is available in two forms: Original, with a natural texture, and Performance, which includes a synthetic coating for a more leatherlike look.
