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INFORMATION ON THE ECO-INNOVATIVE SOLUTION PROVIDER
This eco-innovative solution is the output from the project titled “Environmentally-friendly oxazolidine-tanned leather”
co-funded by the European Commission within the framework of the LIFE-Environment Programme. This solution
has been developed by a team coordinated by INESCOP in partnership with the Italian company (CGS) and the
Fundación Comunidad Valenciana - Región Europea (FCVRE).
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE ECO-INNOVATIVE SOLUTION
The eco-innovative solution consists of a new process for tanning leather with oxazolidine, in combination with syn-
thetic or vegetable tanning agents. This innovative technology represents an alternative to traditional chrome-tanning,
which can consequently improve the environmental impact of leather processing industries. The leather obtained by
the new process has good physical strength and adequate smoothness, softness, fullness and flexibility. Also, the
tanning degree of leather assessed by determining the shrinkage temperature (Tg), allows high quality leather with a
lower environmental impact to be obtained for the footwear, upholstery and leather goods industries.
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR – MARKET SEGMENT AND ACTUAL APPLICATION IN INDUSTRY
31 Leather and leather products
INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION - NACE CODE;
15 Manufacture of leather and related products
OXATAN
Environmentally friendly oxazolidine-tanned leather
© OXATAN
INESCOP
Spanish Footwear Technological Institute
Calle Alemania, 102
03600 Elda, Alicante
Spain
www.oxatan.eu
www.inescop.es
Mr. Joaquín Ferrer
internacional@inescop.es
medioambiente@inescop.es
+34 965 39 52 13
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1.DESCRIPTION OF ECO-INNOVATIVE SOLUTION
Technical aspects of the eco-innovative
solution
The oxazolidine tanning technology allows more
environmentally-friendly leather to be obtained, which
has a similar appearance, quality, properties and
applications to those achieved using conventional
tanning processes, usually chromium tanning. In this
way, it is possible to considerably reduce the envi-
ronmental impact generated during the leather tanning
process as well as at the end of the material’s lifecy-
cle, either in the form of leather scraps in factories
or when the leather articles are disposed of, because
wastewater and wastes are chromium-free.
Oxazolidine tanning technology does not require a
change in the equipment because this new technol-
ogy is about a change in the tanning formulation
(products and operational conditions)
The proposed solution allows leather to be tanned
using a metal-free tanning agent without the need of
using traditional, trivalent Chromium salts. Thus, both
technologies can be used completely separately.
Oxazolidine tanning technology includes a final
washing stage using a formaldehyde sequestering
product, which yields a soluble complex that can be
eliminated in the washing stage, meaning no form-
aldehyde waste results from this process.
The main technical operating conditions are available
in the INESCOP patent that could be used by any
interested tannery, by means of a technology trans-
fer agreement.
Economic and environmental benefits of the
eco-innovative solution
There is no need for new equipment investment but
costs in chemicals are higher compared to those for
chromium tanning. There is an increase of about
0.40 €/ft2 of leather.
The basic price for accessing the patent is 9,500 €
for the first year, including a one-week stay in INE-
SCOP’s laboratories and pilot tanning plants in Spain
for one person, in order to get to know and practise
the tanning recipes for the standard Oxatan tanning
of cowhides. In the second and subsequent years,
the right to use the patent amounts to 6,000 €/year.
This new tanning technology can significantly reduce
the environmental impact of tanneries wastewaters
since it:
• Prevents the presence of heavy metals like
chromium in the wastewater of the tanning
process. In the traditional tanning process, 70 Kg
chromium is consumed at different production
steps for each ton of tanned leather that is
processed. As a result, it prevents the presence
of heavy metals in wastewater treatment sludge;
• Improves the biodegradability of wastewater,
which favours biological treatment over the
physical-chemical treatment.
3
UNEP
SwitchMed Programme
is funded by
the European Union
SwitchMed Programme is implemented by the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO), UNEP Division of Technology,
Industry and Economics (DTIE), UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP and the
Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC).
2. AVAILABILITY OF THE ECO-INNOVATIVE
SOLUTION AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
Market readiness, Trade mark, existing market
coverage, commercialization strategy
The solution is ready for full scale deployment but
not on the market yet.
Requirements to adapt the solution to the local
market and potential applications/market size
The process only needs to be adapted to the type of
raw materials processed (bovine, ovine, etc.), type
of leather manufactured (grain, split, covered grain,
nubuck, etc.) and the final use of the leathers, e.g.
footwear, leather goods, upholstery, garments, etc.
On-site after-sales services support and the
technical assistance requirements
The solution is patented as “Procedure for the tanning,
re-tanning and final dressing of leathers using oxaz-
olidine E”. Application No. P-201101051 (Filing date:
27th September 2011). Publication No. ES-2400883
Theoretical and practical training courses about this
new tanning technology are provided at INESCOP’s
facilities in Spain, with the necessary equipment at
pilot scale for the transference of knowledge.
Targeted local business partners
Tanneries
Type of local business partnership sought
Licensing