You are here

Hides & Skins

Hides and skins are an end product of animal production. As an end product – although more correctly they are a by-product – they are an important and valuable resource. In the developing world they are almost never exploited to anything like their full potential. Hides and skins are often thought of as intrinsically unclean and end up being discarded or wasted because of ignorance or misinformation. Others are processed improperly which greatly reduces their potential value.

Hides and skins are a renewable resource of national and international significance. They provide scope for exploitation on a sustainable long-term basis. More particularly, production and marketing of hides and skins provide opportunities to support and sustain livelihoods especially in rural areas. As a resource, hides and skins are the raw materials for various types of businesses – such as collecting, processing and distributing – which provide many service jobs in countries where livestock are produced.

Greater understanding and appreciation of other people’s contribution to the business of hide and skin production – for example under the auspices of trade associations – could help to resolve contentious issues and promote economic cooperation.

Grading of hides and skins by quality

Improvement of hides and skins quality can be achieved only if quality grading norms are applied. The primary producer, as well as the whole chain of related services, including flaying, curing, handling and storing, should be rewarded by better prices for improved quality. The main purpose of this paper prepared was therefore to provide a basis for such a quality grading.

Tanning industry is an important segment of UNIDO technical assistance in promoting sustainable development. In late 90-ies a number of studies dealing with various cleaner tanning methods, including the widely used paper The Scope for decreasing pollution load in leather processing, were prepared to support different forms of training activities (shop-floor demonstrations, pilot plants, national and regional workshops etc).

In the meantime a lot of practical experience has been gathered, some new tanning technologies developed and implemented and some new challenges have also emerged.  Since proper training is essential precondition for modern, sustainable leather processing, it is felt that a single, comprehensive paper on cleaner leather technologies, rounding up and updating earlier papers, could be of great help in training and capacity building activities.

In addition to traditional cleaner technologies topics such as pollution sources/loads, water management, hair-save liming, low- or ammonia-free deliming, chrome management, low-organic solvents finishing, solid waste management etc., this comprehensive study addresses virtually all issues relevant for performance and successful tanning operations: tannery environmental management systems (EMS/CSR), Restricted Substances Lists (RSL), energy considerations, mechanical operations, Occupational Safety and Health at workplace (OSH), Carbon Footprint (CF) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) which are so often the subject of extensive debates in various international fora and media.

The study also includes many tables, charts and (equipment) photos accompanying and illustrating the text.

It is envisaged that the document will serve as a basis for developing globally accessible eLearning courses on sustainable leather manufacture.

There are also other useful information and sources e.g. Tannery of the Future. The Tannery of the Future tool gives tanners an initial indication of the areas in which they need to become more sustainable, e.g. housekeeping, waste management, working conditions and wages. It also provides references to sources of more in-depth information and guidance.

The Leather Working Group (LWG) has launched an online training platform designed to educate leather manufacturers and other members of the leather supply chain on responsible operating practices.

The course Introduction to Leather Testing is designed for training institutions, private companies and individuals that require understanding of both the theory and application of a wide array of standard test methods in utilize in the leather industry. The course is recommended to be used in a blend of classroom instruction using training content or self-learning along with allocation of time for hands on application in the laboratory. All courses provide opportunity for continuous professional development and lifelong learning.

The Course is divided into five modules:

M1: Fundamentals in Material Testing

M2: Basics in Leather Testing

M3: Physical Testing

M4: Fastness Testing

M5: Chemical Testing

 

Content was developed and prepared as a joint effort between UNIDO, FILK Freiberg Institute and Common Sense. Dr. S. Dietrich will guide you through the course. The course is offered free of charge and a certificate issued upon successful completion of the course.

The course will be available also in additional languages. The course was developed thanks to a generous support from the Government of Japan.

To register to the course, please use this link:  https://learning.unido.org/course/view.php?id=56

"SAFE Leather" must mean safe for operators and workers, as well as safe for consumers and communities. Company management must ensure that the workplace provides workers and anyone else attending the workplace with access to appropriate first aid equipment. Management must also ensure that the workers have access to an adequate number of persons who have been trained to administer first aid.

First Aid course/training should be mandatory for all emplyees. 

First Aid course Modules
Module 1: First Aid Kit - content
Module 2: First Aid Dealing with Heart Attack
Module 3: First Aid Dealing with Burns
Module 4: First Aid Dealing with Accidents Involving Chemicals
Module 5: First Aid Dealing with Contusions
Module 6: First Aid Dealing with Eye Injuries
Module 7: First Aid Dealing with Severe Bleeding
Module 8: First Aid Dealing with Eelectricity

 

To enroll into the course please follow the linkhttps://learning.unido.org/course/view.php?id=19

UNIDO Course Introduction to treatment of tannery effluents

The course, “Introduction to Treatment of Tannery Effluent” is designed for training institutions, private companies, and individuals that require an understanding of effluent treatment methods in the leather industry. The course is recommended to be used in a blended approach via classroom instruction using training content or self-learning along with an allocation of time for hands-on application in the laboratory.   There are 5 modules in this course as below:

Module 1: Load, norms, in-house treatment. This module will explain the aim of effluent treatment; pollution load and the main wastewater quality parameters; typical discharge norms.  It will also offer a general overview of the treatment of tannery effluents, segregation of streams, treatment of spent liming floats, and treatment of chrome-bearing floats
Module 2: Treatment within tannery compound. This refers to the pre-treatment for discharge into the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) collection network, and physical-mechanical (primary) treatment for discharge into municipal sewage.
Module 3: Sludge dewatering.  This module explores sludge thickeners, sludge pumps, filter press, centrifuge, belt filter press, flow-chart of physical-chemical treatment, and sludge drying beds.
Module 4: Biological (secondary) treatment.  This module looks into activated sludge, aeration devices, oxidation ditch, and the flow-chart of the biological treatment
Module 5: Occupational safety and health (OSH) in CETP, and its costing and management

Link to the course: https://learning.unido.org/course/view.php?id=6