Environmental pressures essential as tanning sector in China "restructures"
03/09/2008
The tanning sector in China will continue to feel, until the end of this year at least, the pressure of environmental controls that the central government has imposed.
The secretary general of the state-run China Leather Industry Association, Su Chao Ying, made the statement in response to a question from leatherbiz.com at a press conference at the start of the All China Leather Exhibition in Shanghai.
Mr Su explained that the government had been working hard since 2006 to encourage tanners in China to improve their environmental performance. He said the first effects of that government pressure had become evident midway through 2007 and had continued this year.
He added: "I believe the tanning sector will continue to see the effects of this from now until the end of 2008. But this is an opportunity for tanners to improve their efficiency and the quality of their products. If tanners have to be more careful of the environment, we believe they will have to improve their technical performance to comply. In the long run, this will help China's leather industry to develop and become healthier."
In the short term, Mr Su pointed out, smaller tanneries have felt the biggest impact. "It's true that this has created a difficult situation for smaller operators," he said, "but this is a must-do process for the restructuring of this industry and in the medium-to-long term, it will make for a healthier tanning sector."
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