Chemical Management System - a clear path to a cleaner and sustainable future for the leather industry

The Indian leather industry holds a prominent place as a leading contributor to the domestic economy as well as in the global leather production landscape.

- Dr KA Vijayakumar

With a robust production of 3 billion sq ft of leather annually, India contributes nearly 13% of the world's total leather production".

This sector is known for its consistency in high export earnings and is among the top ten foreign exchange earners for the country.

While these statistics affirm a very positive stance for the industry, a deeper delve behind the scenes. into the manufacturing facilities, reveals the massive challenge on sustainability front. Tannery effluents carry heavy pollution loads due to a massive presence of highly colored compounds sodium chloride and sulphate, various organic and inorganic substances, toxic metallic compounds, different types of tanning materials which are biologically oxidizable, and large quantities of putrefying suspended matter. Solid wastes include animal skin trims, animal hairs, flesh wastes, buffing dust and keratin wastes. All these wastes contain protein as the main component. This protein if not utilized properly, becomes hazardous for the environment. Poor management of chemicals at leather manufacturing facilities can lead to adverse impacts on human health (posing risk of cancer, neurological and reproductive impairments) as well as environment (ground and surface water contamination, aquatic toxicity, air pollution).

Leather manufacturers need to implement practices to minimize or eliminate human health and environmental impacts resulting from their operations. These practices should not be restricted to their facilities and need to extend beyond, to supply chain partners as well. A robust and scaleable Chemical Management System (CMS) is the answer. Better chemicals management can lead to better products, in the form of improved quality and consistency. It also positions the brand at the forefront as a leader in the emerging efforts of industry to publicly report and rank companies' chemical management practices, demonstrate compliance and build customer confidence.