According to the results, 84% of tanners are or will be actively looking to source leather chemicals with 100% or partially biobased content.
“This confirms recent trends and launches by a number of leather chemical companies in this area and will help tanners reduce their overall carbon footprints without losing the performance characteristics of the finished leather,” ILM says in a statement on its website. “Leather itself, is in a great position compared with synthetics or plastic based or blended (so-called vegan) materials as the substrate (hide/skin) starts as a 100% biobased carbon material.”
57% of respondents said that they were considering providing biodegradable leathers. “However, it should be noted that 43% have no intention of going down this route currently,” ILM adds.