The tanning of leather is an ancient technology dating back to 7000 B.C., as evidenced by a description of the process in Homer’s book The Iliad.

The purpose of tanning an animals skin is first and foremost to halt the decay process typical of all organic material, and to render it pliable enough to be used in the manufacturing of shoes, furniture, belts and bags, and of course, leather motorcycle apparel.

Over the years, a number of tanning methods have evolved. It was a stinky, environmentally unfriendly process that at times utilized dog feces, urine and brains. In Medieval times, tanneries were segregated and banished to the outskirts of town, the actual jobs being reserved for the lowliest of class.

Native Americans and the early pioneers were fond of using the animal’s brain to tan the hide. They would concoct a brain soup, adding water and smushing it up over heat, then spread and rub the soup into the skin. Thus the phrase “Every animal has just enough brains to tan their own hide”.

With the Industrial Revolution, hides moved from open vats to rotating drums, automating the process, and along with other innovations, reducing the time and cost of tanning a hide.

Later in the 20th century, with the introduction of all the chemicals and the awakening of the public to environmental hazards, most leather manufacturing moved from the industrialized nations to the emerging economies of Pakistan, and later India, then China. These nations would gladly take on the lucrative leather market regardless of environmental harm.

Leather Goes Green

In recent times, new state of the art manufacturing facilities have popped up all over India, Pakistan, and China, reducing the impact on the environment. In 2005, researchers in India announced a reverse tanning process that promised to revolutionize the leather industry.

Reverse Tanning essentially starts where the tanning process ends and works backwards. Production efficiencies are realized by reducing the steps, and thus the time it takes to tan a hide. Additionally, substantial reductions in chemicals, energy, and waste water are said to cut emissions of key pollutants in the tanning process by as much as 79%.

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Originally posted 2009-06-30 10:30:16.