1. Why is sustainability a top priority for Akzo Nobel and how do you ensure it’s at the heart of the leather production process?
Sustainability is integral to everything we do at AkzoNobel. It is integrated into every part of our business, from our own operations to the products we deliver. The world needs sustainable solutions so this approach makes sense for us as a business. By doing more with less, we can help tackle the most important issues our customers are facing. The world needs sustainable solutions which presents us with an important business growth opportunity. The driving force behind our innovation work at AkzoNobel is delivering products that enable our customers to do more with less. Our DeMythe LDD technology will deliver great positive impact to our customers in the leather industry, from the fewest resources, across the value chain.

2. There are many benefits to DeMythe technology, but can you specifically detail how it helps to reduce waste (both water and chemical) and improve working conditions?
The use of DeMythe LDD technology directly addresses two of the major environmental impacts of the leather industry:

  • . The use of salt in preservation, which means a solution for one or more difficult and expensive wastewater treatments, as all this salt contained in raw hides must be removed and mainly released to the effluent water.
  • . The heavy COD/BOD load in the effluent wastewater of the beamhouse step or leather processing, given by the use of surfactants, solvents and the natural fat removed from skins that are released as well to the wastewater.
  • . The use of DeMythe LDD technology means no use of water and chemicals in both processes. This is not only to prevent the use of harmful products (solvents) but to avoid as well expenses in other kinds of chemicals:
  • – Salt is not expensive itself, but means a high cost for water treatment.
  • – Nonionic surfactants, now mainly used, are not fixed in the skins and thus, finally released. High cost of product and of its treatment as well.
  • – Valorisation of the now unusually high grade fat obtained from the skins for high value (including food purpose) uses.
  • -Valorisation of trimmings of raw hides and skins, free of salt and other chemicals.

3. How long will it take for tanneries to see substantial cost savings using DeMythe?
They will benefit from the described benefits immediately with the implementation of DeMythe LDD technology.

4. What does the leather industry need to prioritise when it comes to treating hides in a more environmentally responsible way?
There are several criteria to be used for prioritising the investment and innovation fields in which to act, but the most reasonable seem to be according to the ratio of environmental benefit (the impacts addressed by DeMythe LDD are clearly amongst the previously defined as most urgent) and positive economical impact. Hurdles and more accommodative approaches such us low investment, use of same existing equipment or steading in a comfort area of process knowledge should not be the making decision keys to go ahead for a goal tending to zero emission process.

5. What will be the consequence if processing of hides continues the way it is going now?
The continuation of the current situation can lead in future to a dead end. The leather industry is moving progressively to countries more permissive with environmental impacts but, after a certain time, these countries will also increase the normative pressure on the industries to reduce their footprint. We are currently very close to this situation and there is a growing awareness of not moving the problem anywhere else, but to solve it as a real answer to the challenge. That means there is no way to disregard the technological progresses in leather processing, as with DeMythe LDD.

6. What responsibility does a big company like Akzo Nobel have in terms of changing not just methods of operations in leather processing around the world, but overall attitudes to the bigger picture of environmental impact for years to come?
Everything we do is underpinned by a commitment to sustainability – reducing the impact of our operations and products on the planet and helping our customers reduce theirs. We already source 33% of our energy from renewable sources and are increasing this. We are committed to reducing total waste and eliminating hazardous waste from landfill and aim to ensure fresh water management is in place at all of our manufacturing sites by 2015. Our products and technology are designed to help our customers do more with fewer resources. We strongly focus our RD&I on eco-premium solutions which bring benefits to our customers. DeMythe LDD is an example of a sustainable customer solution in degreasing and dehydration of animal skins for the leather and protein industry. Another example is Ecosel mTA Salt which enables our customers in the chemical transformation sector to become more energy efficient.