NGOs invite leather sector buyers to view improvements in Ethiopia
11/09/2019
The initiative, driven by Stahl’s chemistry and jointly organised by NGOs Solidaridad and MVO Nederland, aims to help tanners produce in a more environmentally sustainable way by using metal-free tanning agents.
The trip will include a visit to the All African Leather Fair and the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week, as well as a tour of three tanneries that are working with experts from the Green Tanning Initiative on a new system for leather, that also uses less water, energy, salt and creates less waste.
“The purpose of the Green Tanning Initiative is to develop high-quality leathers, tanned without using metals, made under ethical working conditions,” said MVO Nederland.
Ethiopia has Africa's largest livestock population and a long tradition of tanning and processing, supported by Italian expertise and machinery. It is famous for its hairsheep, whose skin is used for glove leather.
“In addition, the country has millions of bovines and goats,” added an MVO Netherland spokesperson. “These skins are tanned in one of the approximately 30 tanneries in the country and processed into bags, shoes, coats, belts and other accessories. Prices are mostly competitive, partly due to the lack of import tax to the EU. Minimum order quantities are in most cases very small.”
The three-year Green Tanning Initiative is funded by the European Union and was launched at the AALF last June.
The trade mission will take place in November and will costs €1,000, which includes flights and accommodation.
Contact Frans Tilstra from MVO Nederland (f.tilstra@mvonederland.nl) for more information.
Image: An shoe factory in Ethiopia
Share this story:
