Jakov Buljan, the international authority on the environmental aspects of leather tanning, has retired after spending nearly 20 years with United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO).

A trained biochemist from the University of Zagreb, Mr Buljan spent the bulk of his professional life in high level tanning industry roles, his first being with the Croatian goat suede and hair sheep nappa producer, Cibalia, of Vinkovci.

In 1974, he became general manager of the company’s joint venture in India where he was instrumental in introducing chrome tanning and ready-to-finish leathers in several local tanneries. On his return to Europe, he became an active participant in Modeurop and in several IULTCS congresses and this led to his appointment as leather specialist with UNIDO in Vienna in 1983.

In the years since, he has played a key role in the formulation and implementation of projects in more than 40 countries worldwide, latterly refining his expertise to the environmental aspects of tannery operations including the preparation of background papers for workshops and seminars. In this context, he appeared as technical editor, author and/or co-author of a number of technical papers and studies, brochures and videos.

Mr. Buljan will be best remembered for helping the industry take better advantage of the international research and development resources at its disposal and his forward thinking approach will doubtless be sorely missed. Indeed, one of his main legacies is the fact that every tannery or tannery cluster in Tamil Nadu, India, has effluent treatment facilities. Mr Buljan says that while he has many plans, these do not include ending his association with the leather industry.

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