By Leather Cluster Barcelona
Jully 2024
Leather is a unique, versatile and timeless material, that has been used by humans for thousands of years. It is renowned for its durability, flexibility, and aesthetic appeal, making it a staple in various industries such as fashion, furniture, and automotive. Leather finds its way into a wide array of products, from clothing and accessories to furniture and automotive interiors. But what exactly is leather, and what makes it such a prized material? Where does leather actually come from? This article explores into the origins and processes involved in creating leather, tracing its journey from raw material to finished product and shedding light on why it continues to be the preferred sustainable choice for most of the worldwide consumers, and why should it be that way in a world where plastic has had such a devastating impact on the Planet in just a few decades, while leather, which has accompanied humanity since its beginnings, has proven to be much more environmentally friendly due to its compostability and biodegradability.
The nature of leather
Leather is a byproduct of meat consumption, the main source of protein for more than 90% of the world’s population. The leather industry recovers and recycles this by-product so that it does not become waste, and revalues it into elegant, noble and useful products for society.
The leather industry is intrinsically linked to the meat and dairy industries, making efficient use of by-products that would otherwise go to waste. By transforming animal hides, a by-product of food production, into valuable leather goods, the industry exemplifies resource efficiency. This utilization of by-products aligns with circular economy principles by maximizing the use of existing resources and minimizing waste.
Leather is then a natural, recycled material made from waste generated by the food industry. Tanners recycle and revalue the animal skin to create sustainable consumer goods with high added value.
Why leather is considered a precedent for the Circular Economy?
One of the pillars of the circular economy is that all waste has a second useful life as new raw materials. In this sense, the leather sector has, for many centuries, recovered a by-product from the food sector and recycled it so that it can be reused as a sustainable consumer good with high added value.
In the quest for sustainable development, the circular economy has emerged as a vital concept. It aims to minimize waste and make the most of resources by creating closed-loop systems where products are reused, refurbished, and recycled. Leather, with its long history and unique properties, is increasingly recognized as a precedent for the circular economy. This article explores how leather exemplifies the principles of circularity and contributes to sustainable practices.
The circular economy contrasts sharply with the traditional linear economy, which follows a 'take-make-dispose' model. Instead, the circular economy focuses on keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. This involves designing for durability, promoting reuse and repair, and ultimately recycling materials back into the production cycle. The goal is to reduce environmental impact and create a more sustainable economic system.
If the leather sector had been born at the beginning of the 21st century, everyone would be clear about the link with the circular economy.
If we were to stop recovering and recycling the skin of animals to turn it into leather, we would face a serious environmental problem.
According to Leather Naturally, modern leather production globally recycles more than 270 million cattle hides each year, approximately 7.3 million tons.
Without the leather industry’s ability to transform hides, more than 7.3 million tons of waste would end up in landfills, causing significant environmental and biological impacts. Not only would it overwhelm landfills worldwide, but it would also create a major problem of greenhouse gas emissions, estimated at 6.6 million tons of CO2e per year.
And furthermore, considering that 24.000 million square meters of leather are produced worldwide every year, equivalent to the surface area of a country like Belgium, this surface would have to be produced primarily from fossil resources.
Leather currently represents the most effective way to repurpose hides from meat consumption within a circular economy. Leather contributes sustainably to a society that needs to consume less, reuse more, and recycle everything.
Author: Leather Cluster Barcelona