JBS Couros advances sustainable leather processing
Leather manufacturing group JBS Couros has launched a new tanning model, Savetan, designed to improve environmental performance in leather production.
Developed under the Kind Leather brand, the technology optimises chromium fixation during tanning, reducing water consumption by up to 16 litres per hide and cutting chemical use by 15% without affecting leather quality.
Initial operations at units in Pedra Preta (MT), São Luís de Montes Belos (GO) and Nova Andradina (MS) show additional efficiency gains, including a 65% reduction in sludge and residual chromium, a 52% drop in thermal energy use, and a 42% decrease in salt application. The company plans to expand Savetan across all tannery units by the end of 2026.
Ramon Torres, director of R&D at JBS Couros, said the technology simplifies and improves control of the tanning process while delivering ecological benefits. Sustainability director Kim Sena added that Savetan aligns with the company’s strategy to combine operational efficiency with resource preservation, meeting growing demands for transparency and socio-environmental responsibility.
