Learning
About Desserto®
Desserto® cactus leather - a sustainable cactus based biomaterial - often distinguished by its great softness at touch and performance for a wide variety of applications while complying with the most rigorous quality and environmental standards of the industry.
About Desserto®
Adrian and Marte had the idea after working in the furniture, automotive and fashion industries where they identified that the problem of environmental pollution was very serious. As a result, they were genuinely interested in reducing environmental impact, so they decided to leave their jobs and start Adriano Di Marti, a company to focus on developing Desserto®, which nowadays is known as cactus or nopal vegan leather.
Why Cactus
Cactus is a sustainable plant due to its high CO2 absorption (8,100 tons/year) and low emission (15.30 tons/year) on a 14-acre farm. It requires minimal water, just 200 liters/kg, and is harvested without harming the plant, allowing biannual regrowth. Grown organically in Mexico, it's used for both leather and food, ensuring resource efficiency and no competition with food crops. Cacti are resilient plants that grow in degraded soils where few plants can grow, further enhancing sustainability.
Production Process
- Cactus Leaf Collection: Nopal cacti are cultivated using natural rainfall and no synthetic fertilizers. Mature cactus leaves are selectively harvested, to ensure the same cactus can produce more leaves in future growth cycles.
- Leaf Purification: Harvested cactus leaves are cleaned, preparing them for further processing.
- Leaf Processing: The cleaned leaves are finely shredded into fibers and dried, transforming them into a leather-like material.
- Material Formation: The processed cactus fibers are mixed with eco-friendly chemicals to add color and form them into the final Desserto® product.
- Product Realization: The finished Desserto® material is organic, durable, biodegradable, and breatheable, making it a good option to use for fashion, automotive, and sports for a range of uses.
Certified Biobased Product
Desserto® has earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product label. This certification is part of the USDA BioPreferred® Program, which aims to increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased products.
Desserto® stands out as a sustainable leather alternative, aligning with environmental objectives through its biobased content, and is recognized for its contributions to reducing carbon footprint and supporting sustainable agriculture and economy
People Often Ask
Desserto® cactus leather is a highly durable material, and can last for up to 10 years.
When cleaning cactus leather, use only water base adhesives, do not use solvents. For the material to maintain a good appearance, use a mild soap solution and remove it completely using white cotton cloth dampened in water.
Do NOT clean with solvents such as alcohol, acetone, paint thinner, bleach, oils, vinegars, waxes, etc. as these causes permanent damage in the material.
Brands Using Desserto® Cactus Leather
BMW Group
BMW has announced that its collaborating with Deserttex®, a cactus-based biomaterial as an alternative to leather for some of its car interiors. BMW's choice is part of a bigger project of 40% emissions reduction by 2030, with particular attention to CO2 emissions.
Hublot
Cactus is a very symbolic plant for Mexico, it can even be found in the national flag, this resilient and beautiful plant has inspired a Swiss watch brand to create a special edition developed and dedicated with love to Mexico: The new Big Bang Unico Titanium Green Ceramic.
Mercedes-Benz
Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV, the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX features cactus leather. Its seats, middle console, and steering wheel are upholstered with Desserto® cactus leather, which is made from the nopal (or prickly-pear) cactus.