Hides leather7/14/2023 ![]() ![]() Hides are first prepared by curing them with salt.The process of making leather is a surprisingly complicated and lengthy process and to get a piece of leather ready for use, takes ten to thirty working days! Leather manufacturing goes through three sub processes to cure the leather:Īccording to the type of leather, the processes can vary slightly but all leather will go through the three sub processes. The principal methods of making leather haven’t changed that much over the years, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. The environmental impact is in the manufacturing, so let’s have a look at how leather is made. Tanneries not only often poison the land they are situated on, but also the waterways into which they discharge effluent. The process is so toxic that many old tannery sites cannot be used for agriculture. Modern tanning is still a messy and smelly affair with a ton of extra energy, water and toxic chemicals thrown in. A chrome tanning facility wastes nearly 15,000 gallons of water and produces up to 2,200 pounds of “solid waste” (e.g., hair, flesh, and trimmings) for every ton of hide that it processes. There is also a huge strain on waterways due to chromium and sulfide pollution. ![]() Finished leather products like shoes and gloves are in direct contact with the skin.Īir pollution is high due to solvent vapours that are used during dehairing and deliming. Leather can contain high levels of toxic chemicals, so when it is in contact with skin, it can cause skin irritations and in severe cases cancer. There is very heavy use of polluting chemicals, like chromium salts, in the tanning process. Leather manufacturing does have a big environmental impact. The process of making leather involves many treatments to preserve it and make it usable. In this post we will be looking at the tanning process of leather, the environmental impact of the leather industry and what is eco friendly leather. So this was a very smelly and messy affair, so most tanneries were situated outside towns.Īlthough leather also comes from ostriches, snakes, crocodiles and other animals, most leather is derived from cattle, so I will focus on those processes. This means that leather has to be “cured” before it can be used for garment and footwear production.Many years ago the tanning process of leather often involved the use of smoke, as well as vegetable tannins, salt, urine and animal faeces or even animal brains. It will also be attacked by insects and other creatures that find leather a tasty snack. If leather is not treated, it will become stiff and fall apart as it is biodegradable. Leather comes from the skin of animals and reptiles and the basic component is rawhide. Where Does That Leave Us With Regard To What Is Eco Friendly Leather?.Reducing the Environmental Impact of Making Leather. ![]()
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