Innovative Processes for Sustainable Leather Production
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2022) | Viewed by 1549
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Sustainability is a key factor for the viability of the leather industry. Indeed, one of the major challenges today is the introduction of innovative and more resource-efficient processes to reduce or avoid the use of water, energy, hazardous chemicals, and waste, contributing to reducing its environmental footprint. Approaching these challenges from a life-cycle perspective will help the leather industry to identify hot spots for further improvement in the coming future.
Therefore, this Special Issue aims to compile recent developments of innovative processes for sustainable leather production. The articles presented will cover various topics aiming to reduce leather's environmental footprint at different stages of its life cycle, ranging from but not limited to product innovation based on new molecules and technologies for metal-free tanning systems, biobased ingredients, ionic liquids, and waterborne dyeing. The articles also cover innovative technologies to provide leather with multifunctional properties (waterproof, fire resistance, biocidal, etc.), such as plasma polymerisation nanocoatings and nanocomposites to improve leather performance according to the intended application. Furthermore, the new paradigm requires the implementation of industry 4.0 processes and methodologies for leather processing, such as approaches aimed at implementing process automation, remote control, and smart technologies to monitor tanning production and thus optimise the production process, promoting water and energy saving, and minimising the impact that production can have on workers’ health and the environment. Moreover, research in this Special Issue covers technologies aimed at increasing transparency in the leather supply chain. The new circular economy model requires innovative solutions implementing waste valorisation and recycling strategies deriving from the tanning industry, as well as other waste from the leather supply chain. As they reduce the impact of leather's end of life, the development of biodegradable/compostable leathers has attracted a great deal of attention. Finally, new characterisation techniques, as well as product environmental assessments, will be addressed.
It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue of Materials.
Dr. Francisca Arán-Ais
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- metal-free tanning
- multifunctional leather
- leather environmental footprint
- life cycle analysis
- nanocomposites
- biodegradable
- compostable
- waste recovery and recycling
- collagen
- waterborne dyeing
- liquid ions
- biobased additives
- tannery wastewater
- leather characterisation
- thermostability
- nanocoatings
- plasma polymerisation nanocoating
- testing
- traceability
- industry 4.0 technologies
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