Eco-Responsible
Sourcing
All industries must source and produce in ways that significantly reduce their ecological footprint. However, immediate successful transitions are often obstructed by insufficient technology, budget constraints due to investments in new technologies (like transitioning to electromobility), or a lack of awareness regarding available market solutions.
The following pages will demonstrate how the implementation of S.A.F.E. in the leather industry can be streamlined and highlight the positive ecological results achievable from the outset.
Environmental Impact
Tanning Industry's Ecological Footprint
The tanning industry heavily impacts the environment, consuming vast water resources and generating significant biological and chemical waste. The world leather production exceeds 650 thousand tons/year, which requires more than 30 m3 of freshwater per ton of raw hides and many chemicals.* It ends up generating highly polluted wastewaters. According to a report by the United Nations Industrial Development organization, the leather industry in developing countries generates an estimated over 600,000 tons of solid waste, over 40,000 tons of chromium waste and over 200,000 tons of salt waste annually . Additionally, the industry is estimated to generate large amounts of wastewater, which can contain high levels of pollutants such as chromium, sulfide and organic compounds.** These pollutants include harmful substances like sulfides.
The massive usage of hazardous chemicals can be avoided by using alternative sustainable and eco-friendly leather processing techniques.
Processing Risks
The beamhouse process
Carried out in a conventional manner, is responsible for the discard of 70% of the total pollution generated through leather processing. The main chemicals used during the liming and unhairing steps include sodium sulfide and lime. The use of large amounts of these chemicals results in high concentrations of S2− and suspended solids (SS) in wastewater (Li et al., 2010).*
Water Usage Challenges
Water is an important medium in leather processing. Almost all the unit operations of leather making use water as a processing medium. Nearly 40-45 L water/kg raw-hide or skin is used by tanneries for processing finished leathers. With annual raw- hide or skin processing of the order of 690,000 tonnes, total water requirements for the industry approximate 30 billion litres.** The beamhouse process is a name for the preparation stage where the hide or skin is made ready for tanning. This is, by far, the most intense process with regard to water usage. Beamhouse & Tanning processes ~55-70% water of total water usage.***
Sources & Remarks:
*pROCESS Safety and Environmental Protection, Vol. 93 January 2015
** Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research Vol. 60, June 2001, pp 443-450, V John Sundar, R Ramesh, PS Rao, P Saravanan, B Sridharnath and C Muralidharan
***oNE4LEATHER, Why Water Is So Important For LEATHER TANNERIES
Join the positive changeA pathway to a sustainable leather industry
The beamhouse process
The Critical Phase
Leather depilation is based on the use of sulfides. Sulfides are highly hazardous substances. In contact with acids, they develop hydrogen sulfide which is lethal by inhalation, being the first cause of accidental deaths in the sector.
Lime
A major element in leather processing, lime production is energy-intensive and contributes notably to emissions. The use of lime increases the sludge volumes. Finding alternatives to lime is essential for reducing the overall ecological footprint.
Dehairing
The dehairing phase utilizes sodium sulfide, leading to toxic hydrogen sulfide emissions. Hydrogen sulfides with its characteristic toxicity and bad smell poses challenges to the environmental management of wastewaters. This phase is critical in creating significant environmental pollution.
The Beamhouse Revolution
Here is where the revolutionary water saving oxidative process S.A.F.E. steps in, being 100% SULFUR FREE and LIME FREE, allowing a direct and cleaner re-use of all generated by-products. The S.A.F.E. technology eliminates natural pigmentation giving white uniform pelts.
Impact Summary
This table highlights the significant reductions in environmental impact achieved through the S.A.F.E. process, showcasing the benefits over traditional methods.It demonstrates how adopting S.A.F.E. can lead to substantial improvements in sustainability metrics.
KPI'S
- Maintain a high quality of the leather
- Eliminates natural pigmentation giving white uniform pelts
- Allows completing the entire production process within 24 hours
- Requires no additional machinery investments
- Odorless leathers and environment
OUR MISSION
Supporting the leather industry sector and its ecosystem in the transition into eco-friendly processes and products.
Endorsements and assessments
The S.A.F.E. process is recognized by industry experts and evaluated by ZDHC for its sustainability, indicating a strong market impact.
Engagement from engineers and the industry further supports its revolutionary approach to leather processing.
Compatibility with tanning techniques
Leathers treated with the S.A.F.E. process maintain high quality and are compatible with various tanning methods, including CHROME & VEGETABLE tanning as well as METAL FREE, CHROME FREE and ALDEHYDE FREE options. This flexibility ensures broader acceptance within the industry.
Industrial Application
Straightforward Implementation
Since 2019, we have undergone a continuous step-by-step scale-up process. In the past two years, we processed +4,000 tons of cow hides of varying weights and sizes, as well as sheep, goat, buffalo, and deer skins using S.A.F.E.
The industrial application will be more efficient as no new machinery or further investments are required. Direct benefits include significant improvements in water purification and a reduction in by-product disposal.
Streamlined application
Testing and implementation process
A team with strong chemical, technological and managerial background supports brands, tanneries and the whole leather industry during the testing and the implementation phase.
LUCTER LTD
Street: 12 Hammersmith Grove
City: LONDON
Postcode: W6 7AP
welcome@safe-leather.com
+39 378 3060867
Frequently Asked Question
We provide the most user-friendly service for you to develop your software with the best user-experience design. You can come up with an idea, design plan or we are open for discussion to help you to develop your desired software efficiently.
We provide the most user-friendly service for you to develop your software with the best user-experience design. You can come up with an idea, design plan or we are open for discussion to help you to develop your desired software efficiently.
We provide the most user-friendly service for you to develop your software with the best user-experience design. You can come up with an idea, design plan or we are open for discussion to help you to develop your desired software efficiently.
We provide the most user-friendly service for you to develop your software with the best user-experience design. You can come up with an idea, design plan or we are open for discussion to help you to develop your desired software efficiently.
We provide the most user-friendly service for you to develop your software with the best user-experience design. You can come up with an idea, design plan or we are open for discussion to help you to develop your desired software efficiently.