Leather Processing

Chapter 4.3: Leather Processing: Cleaner Production Fact Sheet and Resource Guide

Other Internet and Print Resources

NOTE: Listing of a resource does not constitute USAID endorsement or certificationReferences and ResourcesResources and References

 

  • Biller, Dan and Juan David Quintero (1995). Policy Options to Address Informal Sector Contamination in Urban Latin America: The Case of Leather Tanneries in Bogotá, Colombia. LATEN Dissemination Note # 14.Washington, DC: World Bank. http://blds.ids.ac.uk/cf/opaccf/detailed.cfm?RN=169057

 

This report is a case study of informal leather tanneries in the San Benito neighborhood of Bogotá, Colombia. It includes proposals and policy options for addressing the industry’s pollution problems.

 

  • Covington, Anthony D. (1999). Innovations in Processing. International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress held in Chennai, India, January 1999. http://leather.webindia.com/innovation.html.

 

This paper includes a useful overview of hide processing and presents new or alternative production methods that increase efficiency and/or reduce chemical use.

 

  • Hair-Save Unhairing Methods in Leather Processing (2000). Regional Programme for Pollution Control in the Tanning Industry in South-East Asia, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/import/userfiles/puffk/l_hairsave_unhairing.pdf.

 

This report discusses methods of unhairing that result in lower levels of contaminated wastewater, compared to traditional chemical unhairing procedures.

 

  • Re-Use of Chromium in Leather Tanning. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Cleaner Production Case Studies. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/10/09545.htm.
  • EP3-Pollution Prevention Audit for a Sheep Hide Tannery. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Cleaner Production Case Studies. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/10/09234.htm.

    EP3-Cleaner Production Audit for a Cattle Hide Tannery. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Cleaner Production Case Studies. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/10/09238.htm.

 

Three short case studies of cleaner production in a medium-scale sheep and cattle hide tanneries. These provide a useful overview of cleaner production opportunities. Included are cost estimates of cleaner production methods. The studies also focus on re-use of chemical effluents.

 

  • Sahasranaman, A. (1999) Occupational Safety and Health in the Tanning Industry: Emerging Challenges. International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress held in Chennai, India, January 1999. http://leather.webindia.com/safety.html.

 

This short reports lists worker safety issues associated with tanneries and provides policy strategies for addressing these issues.

 

  • Sources, Detection and Avoidance of Hexavalent Chromium in Leather and Leather Products (2000). Regional Programme for Pollution Control in the Tanning Industry in South-East Asia, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/import/userfiles/puffk/hexavalent.pdf.

 

This document evaluates a variety of tanning production methods to see which produce dangerous levels of chromium IV, a by-product of chromium III usage. Technical in some sections, but the general discussion on which methods produce the most danger is quite accessible.

 

  • “Tanning and Leather Finishing” (1998). In Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. http://ifcln1.ifc.org/ifcext/enviro.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/gui_tanning_WB/$FILE/tanning_PPAH.pdf

 

This chapter from the World Bank’s pollution prevention handbook provides minimum pollution standards for tanneries and leather finishers.

back to top

Other Resources:

 

  • Money, Catherine A. Curing of Hides and Skins: Alternative Methods. Australia: CSIRO Leather Research Centre. http://www.csiro.au/resources/OtherCuringMethods.html.

 

These two papers present alternative methods of hide preparation and unhairing. There is a short discussion of current methods and alternative methods that can improve quality.

 

  • Pojer, Peter M. and Chi P. Huynh. A Salt-Free Pickling Regime for Hides and Skins. Australia: CSIRO Leather Research Centre. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=10013373

 

Provides information on eliminating the salt pickle method of preparing hides for tanning.

 

  • Tanneries and the Environment: A Technical Guide to Reducing the Environmental Impact of Tannery Operations (1991). Technical Report Series No. 4. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). http://www.ecoethics.net/bib/tl-021-a.htm.

 

Extensive discussion of environmental issues associated with tanneries, with possible solutions. Ordered from this Web site for US $25.

 

  • Trainers Workbook on Cleaner Production in Leather Tanning (1996). United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). http://www.uneptie.org/pc/cp/library/catalogue/cp_training.htm. Available from UNEP for around US $120.

 

back to top