The Context: As one of the world's largest producers of fresh pineapple, Dole has historically dealt with the issue of what to do with pineapple leaves after harvest time. For every ton of pineapple packaged, three tons of leaves are wasted, sometimes left to rot in landfills, producing methane emissions 28 to 34 times more harmful than CO2.

The goal: Find a scalable solution to achieve zero fruit loss from Dole's operations in less than 5 years – creating a sustainable alternative for rotting pineapple leaves while doing the right thing for the planet and its people and generating prosperity for the business and the community around it.

The creative solution: Turn trash into gold, transforming a waste product—pineapple leaves—into something that would positively impact Dole's business, society, and the planet. Dole partnered with Ananas Anam to develop and expand Piñatex, a technological, sustainable, and vegan-friendly textile alternative to one of the most wasteful and environmentally damaging materials out there: leather.

The manufacturing of Piñatex doesn't use any water, any land, or any fertilizers. Unlike other "vegan" leathers, Piñatex contains no plastic whatsoever and has no residual waste. Excess

fibers are put back into the machine for use.

Dole and Ananas Anam's collaboration has effectively utilized a by-product of pineapple farming, addressing environmental issues while providing socio-economic benefits to rural communities. The execution of this idea showcased how a creative solution can lead to a sustainable business model while benefiting the environment and society.

The Execution: The idea came to life with a close-to-zero marketing budget, requiring only other brands' adoption of the textile, Nike being the most notorious one. When they announced their "Happy Pineapple" sneakers would be made from Piñatex, the fashion world took notice, and more and more brands started using Piñatex. Today, over 1,000 brands in more than 80 countries—including Nike, Boss, H&M, and Hilton—are using Piñatex. Its adoption spans the fashion, automotive, design, and architecture industries.

The Results: Presented at the United Nations and recognized as a world-class example of sustainable development through brand actions, an immense win and honor for both brands. Piñatex also enabled the creation of over 550 jobs in rural farming communities in the Philippines in 2022. 1729 tons of pineapple leaves were saved from being wasted. 2,794 Tons of CO2 were saved from being released into the air in 2022. 83% Reduction in fruit loss has been achieved so far by Dole Sunshine company; and Ananas Anam achieved a 15% reduction of CO2 emissions. The Dole brand garnered over 1.7 billion organic impressions and $15.9 million in advertising value equivalence. More than 100,000 new retail stores started selling Dole Sunshine Company Products globally. In addition, Piñatex has contributed to 11 of the 17 UN SDGs. Piñatex is a 100% vegan product now certified by PETA and the Vegan Society, and REACH compliant, providing assurance that it's free from harmful chemicals. With the success of Piñatex, Piñayarn was launched in Nov 2022, a low impact yarn,100% plant-based, recyclable, and biodegradable.