What is UV Coating and Does My Packaging Need it?
3 min read timeUltraviolet (UV) coating is a transparent liquid compound that's applied to a surface and then...
recycled
4 Minute Read
Written by Weavabel, published 26/02/24 08:00
As fashion consumers become more eco-aware, we've seen a significant shift towards sustainable materials to help reduce the impact on the environment. Leather has long been under the microscope due to its animal origin. However, synthetic alternatives such as PU can often be inferior in quality.
That's where recycled leather comes in. Produced using by-products and consumer waste, recycled leather is one initiative attempting to close the loop on fashion waste. So, what exactly is it? How is it made? And how can it be of use to you? We take a look.
Recycled leather uses waste leather, whether as a by-product from the leather tanning industry, fashion production or post-consumer waste. Although it's a natural product, virgin leather is produced using chemicals, which can be dangerous to the environment when decomposing.
That's why it's essential to consider how leather waste can be transformed into new products and returned to the supply chain, encouraging a circular economy with minimal waste.
Leather cut-offs, waste and scraps are shredded, dried and ground into fine granules. These granules are kneaded with water to form a pulp, which is dried and ground again. The pulp is stretched and dried to produce a tape that has similar properties to traditional leather.
The tape is pressed and compacted before being dried in an oven for eight to 16 hours.
The recycled leather tape is cut into sheets before being coloured and finished with treatments to produce the final product.
While recycled leather has properties similar to virgin leather, it has been processed and won't be exactly the same. Recycled leather uses polymers and chemicals during production, which impacts the material's overall performance.
Interested in incorporating recycled leather into your next branded trims project? The possibilities are almost endless. From badges and patches to zip pulls and keyrings, recycled leather can be used for various applications. Here are some examples to get you inspired.
At Weavabel, we're constantly investing in the latest and most innovative sustainable materials so you can achieve your core goals with your packaging and trim projects. To learn more about the sustainable materials available, download our textiles cheat sheet for all the details.
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