Machinery and Life Cycle Assessment in the Leather Industry: Read the Interview with Abrameq for the CICB Sustainability Forum

Machinery and Life Cycle Assessment in the Leather Industry: Read the Interview with Abrameq for the CICB Sustainability Forum

The machinery sector plays a crucial role in driving innovations and improving processes and indicators in the leather industry. With the growing demand from customers (such as footwear, automotive, and upholstery sectors) for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data in the leather industry, the involvement of the machinery and technology segment will be even greater in the future of production. On this topic, see the insights and assessments from André da Rocha, President of the Brazilian Association of Machinery and Equipment for the Leather, Footwear, and Related Sectors (Abrameq) and Director of Master Industrial Equipment.

Abrameq, alongside its members Master, NBN, Michelon, and Bremm Peck, is a Gold sponsor of the CICB Sustainability Forum, which will take place on March 19 in Novo Hamburgo (RS, Brazil) during the Fimec trade fair. The central theme: Life Cycle Assessment in the Leather Industry.

The CICB Sustainability Forum is organized under the Brazilian Leather project, a partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The Gold sponsors of this edition are: Stahl Leather, Abrameq with Master, NBN, Bremm Beck, and Michelon, and Minerva Leather. Silver sponsors: Getti, Viposa and Vancouros, and Sincurt.

Is the Brazilian machinery sector already prepared or equipped with technologies and tools to support the leather industry in Life Cycle Assessment?

The Brazilian machinery sector offers various solutions to support Life Cycle Assessment in the leather industry. These include traceability solutions for leather production processes, equipment with systems to measure chemical and energy consumption per hide and production batch, and waste treatment systems that can quantify and qualify treated waste. Many solutions are already available, while others are in development, with some tailored to meet the specific needs of individual customers.

What is your analysis of the prospects and demands of the leather consumer market concerning Life Cycle Assessment?

We believe consumer demand for Life Cycle Assessment of the products they consume will continue to grow, and leather holds many advantages. It is an organic product, recycled from the meat industry, offering greater durability, comfort, and health benefits for its users. This is undoubtedly a moment of opportunity for this noble and durable product.

How do you evaluate the evolution of the sustainability theme in the leather industry in recent years?

We have made progress, but there is room for further growth. Tanneries are increasingly seeking to generate less waste and produce using fewer resources, such as chemicals, wood, energy, and manpower. Significant progress can be seen in the organization of production flows, which improves workforce utilization and increases productivity. However, two persistent challenges remain: reducing intermediate inventories and their movements within tanneries, and adjusting processes to accommodate the production of increasingly smaller batches.

What are your organization’s expectations for the CICB Sustainability Forum?

We participated in the last two editions of the CICB Forum and expect a platform for high-quality debates on a current and in-depth theme. The networking opportunities are always valuable, and we anticipate the same in 2025.