Hearth leather now ready for automotive market, Rino Mastrotto Group says
Leather manufacturer Rino Mastrotto Group has said Hearth leather, a range it launched last year, is now ready for use in automotive as well as fashion applications.
The group announced Hearth in May 2025, saying it was the result of a long-term in-house research project and the fruit of its commitment to lowering the environmental footprint of the leather it produces, particularly in the retanning, dyeing, and fatliquoring stages.
A third-party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), carried out in 2024 in line with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, compared 1 m² of finished cowhide made using conventional processes with one produced using the new Hearth method.
Rino Mastrotto Group said at the time of the launch that Hearth reduces water use by 91% and chemical input by 23% in these key stages of production. The LCA also identified a 22% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 25% drop in both fossil resource use and freshwater eutrophication, and a 7% decrease in freshwater ecotoxicity.
It has now said that further development of the Hearth process and “rigorous testing” to make sure Hearth leather meets the safety, stain-resistance and durability requirements of car manufacturers are complete.
It launched Hearth for automotive earlier this year and is now preparing to present the concept to automotive customers in Sweden, the US, Germany, Italy and the UK before the end of 2026.
Head of the group’s automotive division, Barbara Mastrotto, said recently: “Automotive has the highest technical specifications, particularly around durability. We have been able to maintain the softness and a feeling of luxury while also continuing to support the colour palettes and durability requirements automotive customers expect.”
Image: Brusarosco, Rino Mastrotto Group.
