The article ‘Sustainable leather processing: A critical review of emerging green technologies and practices’, authored by Rabeya Sultana, Taslim Ur Rashid and Mohammed Mizanur Rahman and published in the journal Sustainable Futures (Vol. 11), examines how the leather industry is exploring more environmentally friendly processing methods. The review situates traditional leather tanning and finishing within broader environmental and sustainability concerns, given the sector’s known challenges with water use, chemical pollution and waste generation.  

The authors assess a range of emerging green technologies and practices, including enzymatic treatments, supercritical fluid methods, plant-based tanning agents and waste valorisation approaches, highlighting both their potential to reduce environmental impacts and the technical or economic barriers they currently face. The review also reflects on the need for systemic shifts in raw material sourcing, industry standards and cross-sector innovation to support more sustainable leather value chains.  

Key takeaways

• Conventional leather processing is resource-intensive and generates pollutants, motivating the search for greener alternatives.  
• Enzymatic and biological treatments offer reduced chemical use and lower energy inputs compared with traditional tanning chemicals.  
• Supercritical fluid technologies (e.g. with CO₂) show promise for cleaner extraction and finishing, though scale-up remains challenging.  
• Plant based tanning agents and natural dyes can reduce toxicity but require careful assessment of performance and supply viability.  
• Waste valorisation, converting by-products into useful materials can improve overall circularity in leather manufacturing.  
• Economic and technical barriers, including costs and integration into existing industrial systems, remain significant hurdles.  
• A holistic approach, combining technology, policy and value chain partnerships, is needed to advance sustainable leather processing.  

The review underscores that while emerging green technologies offer pathways to lessen the environmental footprint of leather production, broader adoption will depend on scaling, cost effectiveness and supportive policy frameworks. Continued research and industry collaboration will be central to bridging gaps between innovation and practical implementation.  

For full details and technical insights, readers are encouraged to consult the original article in Sustainable Futures.