Leather Chemicals Industry Under Increasing Pressure to Move Toward Sustainability: How Two Chemical Giants are Leading the Way

Globally, the demand for leather has not slowed down drastically despite the availability of several alternative materials. While this is a palpable threat to the global leather chemicals industry, analysts expect that the demand for leather in applications such as footwear, fashion accessories and the luxury automotive segment will continue to show gradual growth. Analysts at Transparency Market Research, a market intelligence firm, expect that the global leather chemicals market will demonstrate a CAGR of 6.1% from 2014 to 2020, as it rises from being a US$5.43 billion market in 2013 to approximately US$8.19 billion by the end of 2020. With a high single-digit CAGR, it is evident that the leather chemicals market is firmly on the course to growth. All the same, companies will have to contend with numerous obstacles – the most important being aligning their leather chemicals business to sustainability best practices.

The carbon footprint of the leather industry, in general, and the leather chemicals market, in particular, has been brought up for discussion by environmental agencies more than a few times of late. From tanning techniques to beamhouse process to finishing procedures, every stage is undergoing a gradual transformation. 

Browse Market Research Report of Leather Chemicals Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/global-leather-chemicals-market.html

Lanxess AG Launches Sustainable Leather Management Initiative to Ensure Leather Production Attains Eco-Friendly Credentials

Lanxess’ Sustainable Leather Management (SLM) program is geared toward formulating leather chemicals that are not only ecologically superior, but also add real value to clients’ processes, especially on the cost front. While the company has already been offering a few products that fit these criteria, its X series of leather chemicals is the latest to hit the market. Under the X series, the company states that two premium products – X-Shield and X-Tan – are changing the very concept of environmental sustainability in specific leather-processing operations. 

Lanxess’ focus on developing new chemical products and systems by using renewable raw materials has intensified in recent years. The company says that it is now firmly focused on cutting back on or entirely eliminating solvents and other chemical substances that carry toxicological properties.

Browse Market Research Press Release of Leather Chemicals Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/global-leather-chemicals-market.htm

BASF Stresses on Cutting Carbon Footprint by Re-Examining Processes in the Value Chain

German chemical giant BASF, who also specializes in a vast array of leather chemicals, has of late made the news for its focused approach to re-examining each key process through the value chain of the leather industry. This has resulted in the company clearly identifying products and processes that contribute heavily to the carbon footprint of the leather industry. 

For one, BASF says in the December 2014 edition of the World Leather magazine that leather chemicals with a complex structure carry a higher carbon footprint. Likewise, its studies have also revealed that as compared to liquid products, powder products have a higher carbon footprint. And, the company has observed that the re-tannage process has the greatest carbon footprint impact whereas the same isn’t as high in beam-house processes or leather finishing. The company is now using the findings from its studies to develop greener leather chemicals and processes.

Lanxess and BASF are just two examples of companies that are now evaluating their leather chemicals more carefully than ever before. Other companies are waking up to this fact and the impact of sustainability-centered regulations will soon be evident on the products available in the global leather chemicals market.