Olivenleder ® – tanned with eco-friendly and eatable tannin
Ad| As I mentioned in some of my recent blog posts, sustainability is a big topic in the fashion as well as the leather industry. Not only do consumers want to know where their products come from, they also want to know how and from which materials they have been produced. As I report on leather bags, the background of the leather production is always present. After I already explained to you the process of leather production, today I would like to introduce you to the award winning patented wet-green® technology to produce Olivenleder ®, made in Germany.
In general, the leather production process with Olivenleder ® is almost identical with the production process using conventional leather. The crucial difference is that olive-leaf-extract replaces the toxics used in the normal pre-tanning process which happens in the beamhouse. The used tannin, the so called wet-green®OBE, is free of chrome, metals, toxics or chemical-synthetic reactive tanning agents.
It is a concentrate produced from olive leaves which also appears in some natural cosmetic articles and in extra virgin olive oil. It is a pure aqueous extract made of olive leaves in a process similar to brewing a tea. Therefore no tree is felled and the olive leaves with its extract come as a by-product of the olive cultivation industry. If one doesn’t mind its bitterness, the olive leaf tannin is so toxic-free that it can be eaten without any doubt, it even holds the Dermatest approval with the best mark “very good”.
In the production of Olivenleder ®, sustainability and environmental compatibility are respected across the entire process chain by taking account of the most current findings. It is produced only in audited tannery production sites sharing and applying the philosophy of sustainable leather production.
Besides a maximum of sustainability and the consideration of all environmental concerns, this tanning method additionally offers saving acids, salts, syntans, dyestuff and re-tanning agents. It also allows the complete elimination of one work stage in the tanning process: Traditional pickling is no longer required. The pelts can undergo the wet-green® tanning process straight after bating.
In this way, Olivenleder ® offers a very smooth and soft feel and a good dry shrinkage behaviour without impairing the hardness of the leather. It is suitable for all areas of the leather sectors making it useful to the automotive- and aviation industry, for upholstery and furnishing, as well as for shoes top and for fine leather goods.
You can find more detailed information about wet-green® on the company’s website and about its Olivenleder ® here and in the following film.
And if you stay tuned, you will also experience more about which german handbag label uses Olivenleder® for its handbags and small leather goods in one of my next blog posts.
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