Mango
From the orchard to our interiors, even small elements can make a big impact. Enter the humble mango seed – discarded as waste, but now finding a second life as a sustainable material for interior design. This innovative use of mango seeds not only reduces waste but also provides the subsistence farmers with an added source of income.

The mango story
The Philippines is renowned worldwide for its national fruit, the mango. Frequently referred to as the "King of Fruits," the mango is extensively cultivated fruit in the country and has been an instrumental contributor to the nation's economy since the 1980’s. Varieties such as Carabao and Pico, are native to the Philippines and Katchamita, also known as Indian Mango, are well-known and exported globally.
The mango processing industry generates tons of bio-waste every year. A single seed can make up to 25% of the fruit and is generally seen to have little monetary value. Discarded seeds often end their journey in landfill, decomposing and contributing to methane emissions, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.












Nature Squared is a pioneering force in sustainability, community, and craftsmanship. By partnering with local farmers and major mango processing industries, we highlight the revolutionary power of creativity and craftsmanship by transforming a mere byproduct into a green asset.
People & Community
Numerlito, a valued Nature Squared partner, is a proud third-generation mango farmer. For Numerlito, mango farming is more than just a vocation; it is a cherished family tradition, a precious heirloom, passed down from one generation to the next. His mango orchard thrives in the fertile soil of northern Cebu, Philippines, where he and his family continuously dedicate themselves to the health of their precious trees.
With patience and meticulous attention, he ensures that every step of the process is executed with care and expertise. His knowledge of mango farming is not just learned, it's lived. It's in his hand, his heart, and his heritage.
The Orchard
Spraying
A critical challenge in mango production arises during the flowering and fruit development stages, when the crop is most vulnerable to pests and diseases. These threats can significantly impact the quality and yield of the mango harvest, making this stage a pivotal point in the farming process. Using organic insect repellents, Numerlito and his family shower their orchard to ensure healthy, vigorous fruit, a testament to the family’s reputation for top quality mangoes.
Wrapping/Bagging
Once sprayed with repellent, the mangoes are individually wrapped with newspaper 53 to 60 days after the induction. It is a tedious and repetitive process yet one crucial to securing superior fruit. Bagging eliminates fruit flies as well as sunburn and other infections, making the skin clearer and lighter in colour.
From a practical and economic standpoint, bagging mangoes also provides a good estimate of likely yield per tree, ensuring Numerlito can meet his contractual obligations and optimize sales.
Harvest
Harvesting mangoes is both an art and a challenge, especially in large orchards like Numerlito's. Unlike many modern mechanised farms, Numerlito continues to pick by hand in time-honoured tradition that preserves the fruit’s pristine condition from tree to table. Mangoes begin their journey towards maturity at around 90 days. However, it takes between 120 to 135 days for them to fully ripen and reach peak flavour and texture. Harvesting too early or too late can affect the fruit’s overall quality.
Numerlito’s orchard not only maintains the quality of its mangoes but also upholds a deep respect for the land and its management that has been passed down through generations. Every mango that reaches your hands embodies patience, precision, and care just as nature intended.
From Farm to Factory
After being carefully hand-picked at Numerlito’s orchard, our mangoes begin a 22-kilometre journey to Profood International Corporation, the largest and fastest-growing producer of dried and processed fruit in the Philippines.
Every step of the way, the fruit is handled with utmost care, making its way through the factory where it is transformed into a wide range of products.
Sorting
Upon arrival at the factory each mango undergoes meticulous sorting and grading. Attention to detail ensures that each mango meets strict criteria, based on weight, size, skin cleanliness and maturity. Every mango is inspected individually and classified to ensure only the highest quality fruit moves forward in the production line.
Peeling & Slicing
At the heart of Profood’s operation lies a finely tuned process, where speed meets precision in perfect harmony. The male workers, after years of honing their craft, have mastered the art of peeling each mango in just six to seven seconds. Their swift yet careful peeling ensures the peeled fruit remains intact.
Once peeled, the mangoes move seamlessly to the female workers, who slice to an exact specification tailored to the different products, whether dried mangoes, candies, or juices. This seamless human chain forms the backbone of Profood's operations.
Waste management
All remains after slicing are sent to specialised machines designed to extract the remaining fruit pulp for purees, leaving only the inedible seed behind.
Drying
The inedible mango seeds are dried in large dehydrators after which they are sent to our production facilities on Mactan Island, Cebu.
Waste Transformation
Our partnership with Numerlito and Profood exemplifies how innovative thinking and sustainable practices can come together to create real change. With mango seeds, we have developed various techniques to ensure that this valueless byproduct is transformed into something extraordinary.
To ensure their stability for our use, we begin by soaking the seeds in an anti-fungal solution. Afterwards, the seeds are carefully sized into various dimensions ready for processing into their final form.
Our Surfaces
Each seed is carefully inspected and treated to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal. With sustainability and quality being fundamental to our brand, we ensure that at every step, from sourcing to the final product, our values and practices are aligned to creating luxury products that honour both nature and craftsmanship.