How Leather Manufacturing Takes The Environment Into Consideration
Leather manufacturing has always been a burgeoning industry around the world. While the business itself is age-old, the processes and practices used have evolved over time. Today’s leather manufacturers are more conscious of the environment and their responsibility towards sustainability more than ever.
Here is how leather manufacturing is changing to become more eco-friendly.
The hide is taken from animals raised for consumption
Gone are the days when animals were killed for their hides in particular. Today, leather manufacturing has joined hands with the farming and F&B industries to facilitate sustainable practices. One way leather manufacturers do this is by using the hides of animals reared for consumption. This ensures that the animal is completely used and no part of its carcass is wasted. This prevents the culling of animals that are not eaten by people.
Electro-oxidation treatment ensures water is recycled during leather manufacturing
The leather industry used to consume a lot of water. But with a crisis of water shortage facing the world today, more leather manufacturers are turning to electro-oxidation treatment to purify their limewater and recycle it back into the leather manufacturing process. The focus is now on creating a zero-water-wastage process, where almost 100% of the water is fully recycled.
Eco-friendly technologies are being employed at every stage of leather manufacturing
Conventional hide unhairing and tanning processes are extremely chemical-heavy. Sulfates, nitrogen, and salt are just a few of the many ingredients that can leach into the earth and pollute water bodies, plant roots, and poison animals. But today, more companies are using sustainable practices as part of their leather manufacturing process.
For one, companies are investigating the re-use of solid animal wastes to become natural sources of nitrogen, carbon, and sulfate for the hide unhairing process. Other items like wheat bran are also being used in place of chemical concoctions to ensure the unhairing process doesn’t have a negative impact on the planet.
Additionally, the tanning process is being made salt-free by not using sulphuric acid and sodium chloride. Tanning times are also being shortened, and this reduces water consumption, the production of Hydrogen gas, and the discharge of chromium.
Raw materials are being procured from farms that are known for their sustainable practices
Leather manufacturing companies of today are cognizant of the ills that befall livestock prior to their culling. This is why they make sure that they source their raw materials from farms which:
- Provide safe, sanitized, and healthy living conditions for their animals.
- Have sustainable farming practices that don’t pollute the environment or contribute to climate change.
- Implement rigorous safety practices to protect livestock from diseases and infections.
- Give nutrition-rich food to their livestock and clean drinking water.
All of the phone cases produced by [company name] use leather that has been sustainably manufactured. You can rest assured that the planet was not harmed during the manufacture of these products.