Sustainable Production and Consumption, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50, P. 177 - 190

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

Leather production contributes positively to economic developments but can create severe environmental impacts, due the associated consumptions of water and chemicals. The substance main concern is basic chromium sulphate, widely used as tanning agent, which provides high-technical performance finished leather. This study quantifies sustainability a conventional leather process those three innovative processes, characterised by limited water. Standardised life cycle assessments were implemented, with reference chains starting from pickled skins until two leathers (for goods footwear), having same technical aesthetic characteristics process. processes adopt rotating drums or substitute them spray nozzles aerosol rooms, require specific pre-treatment that includes de-pickling, drying stabilisation input skins. Tests at industrial scale (or pilot for solution rooms) indicate new strongly reduce impacts in terms Human toxicity-cancer, Ecotoxicity freshwater Resource use-minerals metals (up 57 %, 29 % 48 respectively) even though they imply an increase Climate Change 51 %). Losses wastewater solid waste are reduced >33 g/m2finished leather, process, about 8 5 1 processes. proposed increases (and less chromium) utilising rooms. A great improving be obtained just "simple" drum solution, able toxicity-cancer potential up 53 42 %.

Language: Английский