Country-level Life Cycle Assessment of Carbon Footprint in Processing of Bovine Upper Leather

Abstract

Leather-making processes have achieved great improvements inreducing environmental pollution all over the world. In thisstudy, we collected the data from the tanneries in five countrieson the material flow to quantify and analyze the carbon footprintof leather-making process, based on the Life Cycle Assessmentwith two impact assessment methods that characterize theimpact of climate change (IPCC 2013 GWP 100 years and GHGProtocol). To process 1000 kg of raw hides, tanneries in Chile,China, India, Italy, and Spain emitted 882, 1180, 1608, 1198, and755 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2Eq), respectively. Thecarbon footprint of 1 kg of finished leather for shoe upper in fivecountries ranges from 3.41 to 6.30 kg CO2Eq. The average powerconsumption was the largest factor causing carbon emissions,followed by the consumption of acrylic resin, and chromiumtanning agent. Carbon footprint analysis suggested that enzymeassistedbeamhouse and recycling of the liming float and thetanning float can effectively reduce carbon emissions during theleather-making process. This study will lay the foundation forthe carbon footprint research of the downstream products ofleather (shoes, apparel industry, etc.).