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Hong Kong researchers develop eco-friendly leather recycling process

11 Oct '23

2 min read

reProLeather. Pic: HKRITA/H&M Foundation

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The HKRITA, in partnership with the H&M Foundation, has developed an eco-friendly process for recycling leather through its reProLeather project.
It employs bio-based binders and sustainable chemicals.
This technology also separates harmful chromium VI from shredded leather fibres, resulting in a biodegradable form of recycled leather.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) with the support of H&M Foundation has employed bio-based binders and eco-friendly chemicals for its reProLeather project. This is in contrast with how traditional recycled leather is produced by combining shredded scraps and residual fibres of real leather with synthetic, non-biodegradable binders like PU and PVC.

In an effort to enable a planet positive industry, by accelerating vital research and supporting breakthrough innovation to scale, H&M Foundation is collaborating with HKRITA in the programme Planet First. One of the research projects, reProLeather, has resulted in a new technology to separate the chromium VI from the shredded leather fibres and create a bio-based, alternative to the PU and PVC binders, thereby creating a new form of recycled leather that is biodegradable, H&M Foundation and HKRITA said in a joint press release.

The reProLeather successfully restructured post-consumer leather fibres into leather sheets in its research stage. HKRITA is now seeking industry partners to optimise production properties and enhance functions, paving the way for improved industry applicability in the future.

As many industries are looking to minimise waste and save resources, the demand for recycled materials in the fashion industry has increased. However, recycling certain materials can sometimes be a tricky process, especially leather waste can be difficult to recycle. Much of the recycled leather contains harmful chemical residues, such as chromium VI, which result from the tanning process. These chemical residuals are carried through in the conventional recycling process.

“As a philanthropic change agent for the entire industry, we take risks to unlock needed solutions with the ambition to find technologies that can contribute to a planet positive fashion future. I'm always open to share our findings openly with others, to find industry actors ready to adopt bold innovations and reProLeather could be one of these solutions. I hope to see it scale soon,” said Christiane Dolva, strategy lead at H&M Foundation.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)

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