Industrial best practices and the use of Artificial Intelligence in tanneries were the main topics discussed at the 13th CICB Sustainability Forum, held on March 4 during Fimec, in Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The event was organized within the scope of the Brazilian Leather project, a partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). 
Opening the Forum, CICB Sustainability Advisor Ricardo Andrade highlighted the progress of sustainability in the sector. According to a survey conducted by the organization, in 2018 about 60% of Brazilian tanneries held environmental certifications; today this number exceeds 90%. “These certifications address not only the product itself, but the entire production process, seeking sustainability at the origin of manufacturing,” he explained. Andrade also presented the ESG Now platform, which evaluated sustainability indicators across 28 production units, generating important data related to effluent management, traceability, water use, among other aspects.
The second presentation was delivered by Rafael Martins, CEO of Share and a visiting professor at universities such as Coimbra (Lisbon), Mackenzie and ESPM. Comparing AI to a kind of “magic lamp,” the expert noted that more than one billion people worldwide use these tools every day, especially ChatGPT, the first of them to gain global scale, created only three years ago. “Today, the most important skill is knowing how to ask — crafting clear prompts — which is reshaping the labor market,” he said. While presenting different tools capable of suggesting titles and texts, producing videos, or even creating “clones” for marketing campaigns and customer service, Martins emphasized that “AI does not replace human capabilities; it amplifies them.”
 Next, Jo Gilet, from Hidexe (Luxembourg), presented a solution developed by the company for 3D scanning of leather, capable of detecting defects and imperfections that cannot be identified by the human eye or by conventional 2D scanning systems. According to the founder of Hidexe, the technology, based on the German Easy Inspect system, can scan more than 300 hides in just 10 seconds with a high degree of accuracy. During the afternoon, additional presentations were delivered by Ivens Domingos, who highlighted the impact of technology on the ESG advances achieved by Durli Couros, and Cesare Dal Monte, from GER (Italy), who addressed automation and efficiency in tanning processes. The CICB Forum concluded with a panel discussion bringing together the speakers to debate the future of the sector amid the growing use of AI tools. The 13th CICB Sustainability Forum received Gold sponsorship from Minerva Leather, Abrameq (with Bremm Peck, NBN, Michelon and BKS), Hidexe (with Bauce), GER, Stahl and Muno. Silver sponsors were Viposa with Vancouros, Sincurt and Tecnpiel. About Brazilian LeatherA sectoral project aimed at the internationalization of Brazilian leather, Brazilian Leather is led by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). The initiative develops several strategies to strengthen the presence of Brazilian leather in international markets, including supporting tanneries in major global trade fairs and organizing business missions focused on connecting Brazilian suppliers with buyers from around the world. More information at: www.brazilianleather.com.brAbout ApexBrasilThe Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investment into strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these goals, ApexBrasil organizes a wide range of trade promotion initiatives, such as prospecting and commercial missions, business matchmaking events, support for Brazilian companies participating in major international trade fairs, and visits by foreign buyers and opinion leaders to learn about Brazil’s production capabilities. The agency also works in coordination with public and private stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on sectors that strengthen the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the national economy. About CICBThe Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents companies that produce leather in Brazil. Since its foundation in 1957, the organization has worked to promote the growth, qualification, strengthening and unity of the sector. Sustainability is the guiding principle of the entity, which develops initiatives in technology, professional training, dialogue with government institutions, advocacy for industry interests, commercial promotion of leather, reputation building and image promotion, technical and design qualification, research and market intelligence. CICB also maintains institutional representation, fosters connections across the leather supply chain, and organizes working groups on Traceability and Communication with member companies throughout the country. |
