Scottish Leather Group claims status as 'lowest carbon leather manufacturer in the world'

Scottish Leather Group has detailed its progress towards zero-impact leather manufacturing in its latest Sustainability Report. 

Its inititatives include an independently verified life cycle analysis (LCA) that recorded a carbon footprint of 1.1kg of CO₂ per hide – a 90% reduction from 10.3kg two decades ago. A thermal energy plant (TEP) turns waste into heat, while a water treatment and recycling plant recovers water used throughout the process. 

Through the adoption of circular manufacturing, 80% of waste is diverted from landfill, with aims for a 100% closed-loop process.

A new partnership with brand Mulberry will also see the firm recover end-of-life leather for fuel as part of a take-back scheme, ensuring that old leather contributes to the manufacture of new products.