It ain't fashion, if it ain't sustainable

Leather Naturally

Leatherwear / Royal Smit & Zoon

4 May 2022

4 minutes

The leather industry supports the creation of a circular society by making leather that can be used over and over again and ultimately can be recycled easily. Royal Smit & Zoon caters to industries such as automotive, high-end fashion, and upholstery.

For Society that Needs to Consume Less, Leather is Perfect Material

A leading global supplier of specialty chemicals for leather manufacturers, the focus at the century-old, family-run Royal Smit & Zoon is on sustainability through innovation as it develops and manufactures sustainable (bio)chemical solutions for the leather industry. Extracts from an interview with Egbert Dikkers, Global Director ESG.

Richa Bansal

Interview

Guest Column / Business of Leather

20 April 2022

7 minutes

Carbon foot-printing and circularity do take into account that the animals used for 99% of leather are not killed for their skins alone.

Cleaning Up the Leather Supply Chain

It is worth every tannery and trade association buying into ESG to push for doing things correctly at every level. One big area for leather is its longevity and production and design should have this in mind and plan for repair, refurbishment and possible repurposing.

Mike Redwood

Commentary

In-Depth / Leather Naturally

11 April 2022

6 minutes

The bigger picture is that the leather industry is increasingly audited from farms to meatpackers, to leather manufacturers, chemical companies and leather goods manufacturers. All of this will support the creation of an ethical and circular society.

Consumers unaware most vegan leather made of PVC, PU, plastics

Leather can be classified as a biomaterial, and the industry increasingly is realising that it needs to invest in fact-based communication to consumers and brands that it is one material where there is no waste, where everything can be re-used, re-cycled and ultimately be biodegradable. Debbie Burton, Marketing Head at Pittards, shares how this industry is part of the solution to create a circular society.