INNOVATOR PROFILE
LA SALVA
COMPANY INFORMATION
COMPANY HISTORY
In 2012, Lucas Fuhrmann and his team were introduced to the potential uses of agricultural by-products at the La Salvadora cacao and banana plantation in Nicaragua. In 2016, they founded La Salva and created their first material from banana tree fibers. The team received several awards and grants, including a bioeconomy grant from the German Ministry of Research and Education and the Social Entrepreneurs of the Year award from the London School of Economics. In 2019, they shifted their focus from banana to cannabis, sourcing their fibers from farmers in Germany. Prototypes of accessories made with Ganja Flex are planned for 2020.
MATERIAL
Ganja Flex is an entirely plant-based leather alternative made from cannabis plant fibers.
TECHNOLOGY
Production process: Mechanical/Chemical
Stem fibers from cannabis plants are extracted and pulped in a mechanical process. Fibers are bound with other plant-based polymers to create Ganja Flex.
SUSTAINABILITY
As an entirely plant-based material with no added plastics or petroleum-based coatings, Ganja Flex is biodegradable. Its production requires less water and land and fewer chemicals than both bovine leather and petroleum-based alternatives.
CURRENT APPLICATIONS
ACCESSORIES
La Salva is currently creating accessories made from Ganja Flex.
Ganja Flex sample pictured.
Images from La Salva.