Sustainability in Leather Production: A Comprehensive Review from Raw Material Sourcing to Certification Processes
Öz
Leather production is one of the earliest known activities in human history, characterized today by a structure that blends centuries-old traditional methods with chemistry, biotechnology, and engineering. It is a value-generating production activity that rescues raw hides, which are a biological byproduct of the meat and dairy industries reaching 7.3 million tons annually, from being discarded as environmental waste. In this study, building on professional expertise alongside existing literature, the significance of the leather industry in the circular economy is evaluated. The industry’s primary sustainability advantage, derived from utilizing the byproduct of a separate sector as its raw material, is analyzed together with alternative technologies and considerations regarding sustainability in chemical and mechanical production processes. Furthermore, the certification of prominent contemporary sustainability initiatives is also incorporated into the study. It is emphasized that while raw hide is inherently a sustainable raw material, the intensive use of water and chemicals during wet processes is still a major handicap. However, the study envisages that the quantity and quality of wastewater can be improved and reduced to reasonable levels through the control of process parameters and various alternative methods. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that sustainability in leather production can be achieved through the optimization of mechanical processes, effective solid waste management, and the implementation of governance systems and sustainability initiatives. The journey of raw hide to finished leather is thus analyzed within the comprehensive context of sustainability.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Kaynakça
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Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Biyoişlem, Biyoüretim ve Biyoürünler, Atık Yönetimi, Azaltma, Yeniden Kullanım ve Geri Dönüşüm, Çevresel ve Sürdürülebilir Süreçler, Malzeme Mühendisliği (Diğer)
Bölüm
Derleme
Yazarlar
Kemal Kılınç
*
0000-0003-0790-8962
Türkiye
Yayımlanma Tarihi
30 Ekim 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
24 Mart 2026
Kabul Tarihi
5 Haziran 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 13 Sayı: Sürdürülebilirlikte Güncel Yaklaşımlar Özel Sayısı