Sea buckthorn project can be game-changer for leather, Nera says
Leather chemicals group Smit & Zoon is involved in a new partnership with Rotterdam-based Enviu, a specialist in developing circular business models, and bio-based products manufacturer SN Botanicals to use leaves from the sea buckthorn plant to make circular, metal-free leather.
Tanning materials to come out of the partnership have been named Desert Spring by the partners and they will be brought to market by Nera, the company Smit & Zoon set up in October to focus on new tanning solutions, including its Zeology system.
The leaves they are using are from sea buckthorn plants from China. They only use the leaves rather than the shrubs so as not to have any impact on biodiversity or local economies. For centuries, communities have harvested berries from the sea buckthorn plant for use in food and medicine.
Sea buckthorn thrives in poor soils and improves soil conditions thanks to its rooting system. In China, the shrubs are widely planted in areas affected by soil degradation. By sourcing from these regions, the DesertSpring project will bring new income opportunities to communities in those regions and stimulate soil improvement initiatives.
On announcing the new project, Nera’s Pim Wilgenburg said: “Leather is a very sustainable product as the hides are a by-product of the food industry. With Desert Spring we take another step towards increasing the sustainability of the supply chain around this industry. The tanning agent, which can replace traditional tanning agents, is a game-changer both in terms of quality and performance, and for its environmental and social impact.”
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