Leather is one of the most popular clothing materials in mass production today, especially in the world of high fashion. But modern-day leather production is inefficient and uses a number of dangerous and unsustainable chemicals. Bluedot Institute student Arinze Okigbo sheds light on how technological advances are making leather production less environmentally deleterious, and how alternative forms of biofabrication could replace leather processing altogether.
“Leather production begins with farming and moves on toย slaughtering, tanning, and finishing. Water usage throughout the leather-making process (soaking the hides, cleaning away the tanning chemicals, and rinsing the leather) is one of the industryโs most significant environmental issues. Research by The Queen Mary University of London estimates that it takes 16,600 liters of water on average to create one kilogram of leather.”
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Bluedot Living periodically showcases student work from the Bluedot Institute: a non-profit public benefit corporation dedicated to supporting students and their teachers in creating local, solution oriented projects that address the environment and climate change.