Leather has long been used in our industry for furniture, wall and floor surfaces, and other design elements. Looking at the leather industry as a whole, only a small portion of leather produced ever ends up in a hotel. Most leather is used for shoes, hand bags, in the automobile industry, etc. Even though the purchase of leather pales in comparison to carpeting or mattresses in a hotel, it should be considered carefully.
Historically, the tanning of leather has been a very dirty one because of the improper use of chromium—a toxic heavy metal. Lax environmental regulations here in the United States once resulted in heavily polluted air and water, and health problems for those exposed to chromium. Fortunately, conditions have improved substantially in recent years as violating plants have been closed down. In countries such as India, however, tannery effluent is still a major source of aquatic pollution.
In my research for an article on eco-friendly leather (click here for it), I discovered that several manufacturers are now offering chromium-free product lines. Instead of chromium for tanning, vegetable-based products are used. Petroleum-based topcoats have also been replaced with water-based ones. Many of these greener leathers are produced in Italy where there are strict environmental regulations.
Strong Case for Green Leather?
As available as these greener leathers are, trying to decide whether eco-friendly leather is really possible would keep most environmentalists up at night. Leather manufacturers argue that leather is a byproduct of the meat industry and if not used would go to waste in a landfill. Of course they make a great point given the amount of cattle slaughtered for meat each year. If you back up through the supply chain, however, and consider what it takes to get the cattle to the point of slaughter, it becomes more difficult to make a green case for leather.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, livestock production is one of the major causes of the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Consider the resources consumed to grow food for cattle—the water, fertilizer, burning of oil for transport, trees felled to make room for grazing, etc. That said, I am not naiive to believe that people around the world are all of a sudden going to stop eating meat; something good needs to be done with all of those hides.
I asked Keith Hill, vice president of Greensboro, N.C.-based Green Hides, what three things designers should consider when weighing the environmental impact of leather. He said: “Where the hides are from, where they are tanned and finished, and what kind of environmental standards exist.” In other words, try to buy as local as possible—leather that did not take a world tour after leaving the cow—to help minimize the overall carbon footprint of the leather. Ask how the leather was processed and with what chemicals. Ask about conditions for workers. Is there a reputable environmental management system in place at the factories? How strict are government regulations when it comes to air and water emissions?
I suspect most people do not take the time, or have the time, to really dig into the environmental implications of their purchases. Perhaps if more people did, however, there would be just a little more pressure on suppliers and their suppliers to clean up their manufacturing processes. The leather industry is just one example of an industry that is cleaning up its act. That is good news for all of us.
Your thoughts? I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Green Lodging News Adds Impact Enterprises as Founding Sponsor
Green Lodging News welcomes Impact Enterprises as a Founding Sponsor. Impact Enterprises, Inc. has been manufacturing unique custom binder covers, menu covers, presentation folders, sales kits, and table-top accessories since 1987. The company also offers custom signage and custom corporate gifts. Impact initiated a green program in 2003 that has continually been improved upon and expanded, and is now internationally recognized. Impact was the first manufacturer to introduce custom metal binder and menu covers. Its copper, brass, and brushed aluminum are recycled metals. Impact also offers solid wood covers, all from Verified Sustainable Forests. Other environmentally responsible materials offered include aqueous coated fabrics, recycled leathers, recycled poly, and recycled paper. For more information, e-mail rsalisbury@impactenterprises.com, call (866) 370-0340, or go to www.impactenterprises.com.
See You at HD Expo & Green Day?
I will be attending HD Expo and its opening Green Day from May 17 to May 20. The events will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Click here for details on the events.
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