Residues which were before sent to industrial landfill, are now recycled and reused in the leather production chain, creating a new profit source for the company and improving their environmental performance.
Protein and chromium are separated through a hydrolysis process. The protein, in powder or liquid form, is currently sold as a raw material to chemical companies and used in the formulation of new products in the leather industry.
On the other hand, used chromium from tanning is turned into chromium sulphate monobasic and is reused in the tanning and retanning processes.
Due to the plants success, JBS Couros plan to develop similar units in other locations around the country. New research is being conducted on different industrial applications of the protein, such as fertilizers and cosmetics.
