More sustainable chemistry in the leather supply chains

In short:

This publicly funded project deals with the challenges of a more sustainable chemistry in the global leather supply chains.
International stakeholders along the supply chains as well as NGOs and academia from various disciplines are working together.
It is divided into four subprojects that aim at developing and testing specific innovations

Achieving, by 2020, "environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle” - this is the goal to which the United Nations have committed themselves under the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. This requires a transformation of production and consumption patterns along global supply chains. Against this background, the project is dedicated to the challenges along the value chains of leather products. The interdisciplinary team is composed of, inter alia, natural scientists, engineers, lawyers, design researchers, IT specialists and business economists. The mutual transfer with actors form the field is one key element of the project (transdisciplinarity). For this purpose, the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt has already established strategic networks, for example with multi-stakeholder initiatives (UNECE Sustainable Textile and Leather Traceability and Transparency Project, Textile Exchange Responsible Leather Project). On this website, you will find further details on the project context and the challenges, on system innovation as mitigation strategy, as well as on the possibilities for practitioners to participate in subprojects each addressing specific solutions.

Transformation towards a "More Sustainable Chemistry" in the Leather Supply Chains"

Introduction to the project and invitation to participate

Challenges of a more sustainable leather chemistry

To produce the durable material leather from animal skin requires a complex tanning process in the course of which a large number of sometimes problematic chemicals are used. The specific process conditions depend primarily on the intended end use (car dashboard, belt, toddler boots etc.) and the associated desired material properties. Only a relatively small part of the production of leather and leather articles today takes place in Europe. Rather, supply chains have relocated to places with usually lower standards with regard to the protection of the environment, workers and consumers, and animal welfare. A "more sustainable chemistry" not only enables a high level of protection for humans and the environment, but also helps to reduce corporate risks (compliance violations, liability cases, reputational damage). To achieve more sustainable chemistry, a number of challenges need to be overcome by the key actors - i.e. in particular suppliers of chemicals (tanning agents, other leather-making auxiliaries), tanneries, leather processing companies (manufacturers of intermediate and final articles), as well as brands and retailers.

The challenges in detail

System innovation to overcome challenges

Changing the global value chains for leather articles towards sustainable development requires modifying in complex system. A system innovation approach combines technical innovations with organisational innovations (e.g. concerning forms of cooperation and communication), both leading to new business models, and embeds them in an institutional context that defines rules and responsibilities. On the way to a system innovation, all relevant actors must be involved, taking into account their specific framework conditions, incentives and obstacles. Then, enabling the actors obtaining a systemic view is paramount so that they can develop a common understanding of the problem and, based on this, develop solution strategies.

System innovations in the leather supply chains

Solutions in the form of specific measures

In several subprojects, options are to be examined with regard to solving the challenges mentioned above. Strategy workshops yielded a fortune of different approaches. However, the decisive factor is the extent to which the approaches provide leverage. Actors from the field helped to prioritize approaches accordingly. Against this background, initially, those subprojects will be launched from which the greatest effects can be expected in the direction of a more sustainable chemistry in the leather supply chains. Together the subprojects address different aspects of the required system innovation. Any person or organisation wishing to contribute to the achievement of the objectives in the subprojects can participate in them.

Further harmonisation of standards concerning the production of leather and leather articles – with a particular focus on the chemicals in processes and products – shall reduce existing inequalities inherent to the frameworks in place worldwide, thus raising the overall quality standards and contributing to a level playing field.
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Subproject #2 - IT Tools and Governance for Traceability

Establishing an industry-wide, IT-based exchange format to trace chemicals along the leather supply chains (traceability), embedded into a governance framework ensuring data quality, strengthens downstream users (such as brands and retailers) in their compliance and quality efforts and enables them to formulate demands more targeted in the direction of sustainable chemistry.
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Subproject #3 - Chemicals and process innovation

The future of leather chemicals and their production should be based on a holistic approach which, based on life cycle assessment studies, gives preference to the scalable solution that causes the least harm to people and the environment.
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Subproject #4 - Design guidelines for Sustainable Development

A "more sustainable leather chemistry" often has an effect on the leather material. Leather design guidelines provide orientation for the selection of leather types for different applications, as well as for their creative presentation as appealing products.
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