Hannes Parth: The Apple of Your Eye

Hannes Parth is an entrepreneur and engineer who has turned apple waste into a vegan leather material that is biodegradable and compostable, and has won the admiration of the fashion world and the Green Carpet Fashion Awards. He is the founder of Frumat, a company that produces and sells apple-based products, such as paper, tissue, and packaging. In this biography, we will learn more about his life and achievements, and how he has used innovation and sustainability to create a positive impact in the fashion industry and the environment.

Photo credit: Hannes Parth’s website GREENSTYLE

The Origin and Vision of Frumat

Hannes Parth was born in 1972 in Bolzano, Italy, where he grew up in the Tyrol region, the largest apple growing region in Europe. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Padua, and graduated in 1997. He then worked as a project manager and consultant for various companies, mainly in the renewable energy and waste management sectors.

He always had a passion for finding new solutions to environmental and social problems, and he was inspired by the concept of circular economy, which is a system that aims to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. He also loved apples, and he noticed that every year, tons of apple waste, such as peels and cores, were generated by the juice industry, and were either burned or disposed of in landfills, causing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. He wondered if there was a way to use this waste as a valuable resource, and to create something useful and beautiful out of it.

He started to experiment with apple pectin, a natural substance that is extracted from the apple waste, and that has properties such as elasticity, strength, and biodegradability. He developed a process to transform the apple pectin into a leather-like material, by mixing it with other natural fibers and polymers, and by applying heat and pressure. He named the material Pellemela, which means apple skin in Italian, and patented the technology. He then founded Frumat in 2008, a company that produces and sells Pellemela and other apple-based products, such as paper, tissue, and packaging.

The Products and Benefits of Frumat

Frumat produces two main lines of products: Frumat Apple Skin and Frumat Apple Paper. Frumat Apple Skin is a vegan leather alternative that is made of 50% recycled apple fiber and 50% polyurethane. It is biodegradable and compostable, and can be used for bags, shoes, and accessories. It comes in different colors, textures, and thicknesses, and can be customized according to the customer’s needs and preferences. Frumat Apple Skin is a high-quality and durable material that has a similar look and feel to leather, but without the environmental and ethical issues associated with animal leather production.

Frumat Apple Paper is a paper-like material that is made of 100% recycled apple fiber. It is also biodegradable and compostable, and can be used for various applications, such as stationery, labels, tags, and packaging. It has a smooth and soft texture, and a natural and pleasant smell of apples. Frumat Apple Paper is a versatile and eco-friendly material that can replace conventional paper and plastic products, and reduce the consumption of trees and fossil fuels.

Frumat’s products have many benefits for the fashion industry and the environment. They help to reduce the amount of waste and pollution generated by the apple and leather industries, and to create a circular economy that uses renewable and natural resources. They also help to meet the growing demand for vegan and sustainable alternatives to leather and other synthetic materials, and to offer consumers more choices and options that are aligned with their values and lifestyles. They also help to create new opportunities and jobs for local farmers and workers, and to support the development and innovation of the Tyrol region.

Awards and Recognition

Hannes Parth at an Award Ceremony in La Scala, Milan

Frumat has received numerous awards and recognition for its work and achievements, both as a company and as an innovator. Some of them are:

It won the Technology and Innovation Award at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in 2018, for its contribution to the advancement and sustainability of the fashion industry.

It was selected as one of the finalists of the Global Change Award in 2019, a competition organized by the H&M Foundation to support innovative ideas that can improve the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry.

It was featured in the exhibition “Fashioned from Nature” at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2018, which showcased the most creative and inspiring examples of sustainable fashion from the past and present.

It was mentioned in the book “Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes” by Dana Thomas in 2019, which explored the history and the future of the fashion industry, and the role of technology and innovation in creating a more ethical and ecological system.

Conclusion

Hannes Parth is the apple of your eye, who has turned apple waste into a vegan leather material that is biodegradable and compostable, and has won the admiration of the fashion world and the Green Carpet Fashion Awards. He is the founder of Frumat, a company that produces and sells apple-based products, such as paper, tissue, and packaging. He is also a visionary and a leader, who has used innovation and sustainability to create a positive impact in the fashion industry and the environment. He is a role model and a mentor for many people who share his passion and vision, and who want to make a difference with their ideas and actions. He is a true inspiration for anyone who wants to improve their mind and body by embracing circular economy and natural materials.

If you are interested in learning more about Hannes Parth and Frumat, you can visit their website, or follow them on Instagram or Facebook. You can also check out some of their products and customers on their online store, or on The RealReal, where you can find pre-owned and authenticated Frumat items.

We hope you enjoyed this blog biography, and that it inspired you to improve your mind and body by embracing circular economy and natural materials. If you did, please share it with your friends and family, and leave us a comment below. We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Thank you for reading!