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Sustainability

  • UNIDO Solar Water Heating - Ayuub Brothers, Hazaribagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • UNIDO Solar Water Heating
  • UNIDO leather Screen - Hair saving liming technology

Sustainable and cleaner production technolgies is an efficient method of preventing or minimizing pollution caused by industrial activities. UNIDO continues to place an emphasis on the introduction of cleaner leather processing technology in developing countries. The primary task of all cleaner technologies is to reduce the amount pollution emissions; and where possible change the nature of pollution emissions to reduce the pressure and costs of end-of-pipe treatment. The expected results primarily include:

  • Lower water consumption – better preservation of rapidly diminishing water resources.
  • Lower total dissolved solids (TDS) content (including salinity) – lower risk of affecting the usability of the receiving water bodies for irrigation and livestock watering.
  • Avoidance of use in processing and/or presence in leather of substances from the Restricted Substances Lists (RSL) promulgated by national or regional legislation, leading (multinational) brands and/or ecolabel due to their proven negative impact on human health and eco-systems.               
  • Proportionally higher volume of solid wastes suitable for processing into saleable by-products.
  • Lower levels of BOD, COD and Nitrogen; their respective contents in conformity with local and widely prevailing legislative norms.
  • Low level of chromium in (C)ETP sludge – the scope for land application and/or composting.
  • Lower hazardous and/or unpleasant air emissions.
  • Appropriate occupational health and safety (OSH) standards – better work conditions, fewer accidents.

Chrome tanning is the most common type of tanning in the world. Chrome tanned leathers are characterised by top handling quality, high hydro-thermal stability, user-specific properties and versatile applicability. Waste chrome from leather manufacturing, however, poses a significant disposal problem. Throughout the world, chrome discharge from tanneries is subject to strict regulations. That notwithstanding, chrome is a component that has to be strictly monitored. The environmental impact of chrome discharged from tanneries has been a subject of extensive scientific and technical dispute. Although the legislative limits on the disposal of solid chrome-containing waste have been relaxed in some countries, liquid emissions remain strictly regulated throughout the world. Given the close link between chrome tanning and the environmental impact of leather manufacturing, chrome management is of primary importance in tanning operations. This paper provides information on chrome management and those techniques most frequently used to reduce the amount of chrome in tannery wastewater. By providing information and citing practical experience, the paper aims at contributing to sustainable development of leather manufacture without avoidable harm to environment.

Case Study prepared for the Conference on Ecologically Sustainable Industrial Development (ESID), Copenhagen, Denmark, 14 - 18 October 1991.

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