Information on the eco-innovative solution provider

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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

[e-mail] 

[e-mail]

[phone]

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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.

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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