CLRI develops ‘green’ technology for leather tanning

Scientists at the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) have developed ''green'' technology for chemical processing of leather, a breakthrough in the in scientific processes for leather tanning.

Announcing the development of a novel, biodegradable dispersing agent by CLRI, a unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), union minister for science and technology Dr Harsh Vardhan said the development enables chrome tanning of leather with just half the normal usage.

This ensures the saving of 15 million litres per day of water in the Indian leather sector alone - and an estimated 200 million litres per day if this revolutionary technology is applied globally - a ''paradigm shift'' in the leather sector, he said.

''This development is aimed at multiple benefits relating to in-process abatement of effluent problem, curtailing process steps, huge water conservation, time economy and cost saving,'' the minister said after a visit to CLRI this morning.

CLRI, he said, has also succeeded in fostering an ''enzymatic intervention'' to complete in just 30 minutes the enabled fibre opening process, which till now has taken up to 72 hours.

''This is good news for the Prime Minister's 'Make in India' agenda. Our leather and leather goods industry is on the verge of unique competitiveness,'' Harsh Vardhan remarked.

India, incidentally, is the world's largest exporter of leather and leather products.

The minister, meanwhile, emphasised the need for the use of a combination of natural materials such as pineapple leaf fabric, banana fabric with leather forms, which could lead to the next generation in the fashion industry.

The minister also visited India Shoes Pvt Ltd at Chennai and appreciated CSIR-CLRI efforts for providing the end-to-end technology knowledge base to the company over the years. India Shoes has emerged as one of the major manufacturers in the country exporting leather shoes and accessories.