Scottish Leather Group (SLG)'s new facility, which is being dubbed a 'super tannery' and took seven years to complete is based at Bridge of Weir near Paisley in Scotland.
The leather manufacturer says it is known for producing the world's lowest carbon leather so wanted to construct a facility focused on low-impact production combined with hide processing technology that ensures consistent quality while further enhancing environmental performance.
Compared to SLG's previous equipment, the super tannery is expected to reduce energy and water use by 82% and 42% respectively.
This is the latest in a series of investments SLG is making in what it calls "world-class" facilities.
Previous initiatives by the Scottish Leather Group include a thermal energy plant (TEP), which ensures the company minimises disposal and turns waste into heat, and its water treatment and recycling plant (WTRP), where the water used throughout the process is recovered.
The leather manufacturer explains the recruitment and retention of skilled workers is critical to the super tannery’s successful operation.
SLG chief executive officer Nicholas Muirhead says: "Since 2003, we have continuously invested in strategic initiatives designed to optimise and improve productivity, quality and sustainability.
"The new super tannery is the latest significant milestone on that journey, a state-of-the-art facility that builds on the considerable savings we have already made in reduced energy and water use, improving our efficiency, and futureproofing our production. This will provide our customers with further evidence of our position as the leader in the supply of the world’s lowest carbon leather."
The Scottish Leather Group has also published its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report which shows the manufacturer has reduced the carbon intensity of its leather by 90% over the last 20 years.
Other key achievements include 100% traceability of raw materials and 77% of waste recycled in 2022.
The manufacturer also commissioned an independent ESG analysis for the first time to provide benchmarking for future evaluation and to identify and address any gaps. This exercise, it says, will be repeated periodically to support continual progress.
