JBS launches Kind Leather
13/03/2019
“Kind Leather will revolutionise the industry, changing the way leather is made globally and building a closer connection to consumers,” said Roberto Motta, chief executive of JBS Couros in the build-up to APLF.
The new range of leather is made using a new process and will provide environmental, social and economic benefits, the company said, based on “intelligent” use of raw materials and resources.
Marketing and sustainability manager, Fernando Bellese, said: “Leather is a natural and highly durable product. But what makes Kind Leather truly sustainable is the way it is processed, using only those parts of the hide best suited for leather. We were able to create a higher-quality product while avoiding waste and using fewer products to treat the hide.” Components that were previously discarded can now be used to make collagen for the food and beauty industries.
This change in the production process also boosts productivity from leather cutting machines and finishing plants. JBS carried out productivity tests in partnership with companies involved in the leather cutting process, focusing on the automotive market, with results suggesting the new system can improve yields by up to 10% compared with the traditional industry models. These tests also showed a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions by reducing the number of trucks needed to ship product, a reduction of more than 50% in the use of water and a 20% drop in energy use during the tanning process. There was also a 28% reduction in chemicals used to finish the leather and a decrease of up to 45% in trimming waste at cutting stage.
Kind Leather also provides additional sustainability through a traceability programme JBS Couros has put into effect, encompassing the whole leather supply chain, from farm to end product. It uses monitoring technology to oversee and verify the activities of more than 80,000 cattle suppliers in Brazil, ensuring they comply with the social and environmental standards set out in the company’s procurement policy.
The system monitors a wide range of issues, from deforestation of native forest, invasion of indigenous land and environmental conservation areas, or areas embargoed by the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA). It also seeks to ensure suppliers do not employ child or slave labour.
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