GREEN ORGANIC AGENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE TANNERIES (GOAST)

GSC GROUP

LIFE GOAST LIFE16 ENV/IT/000416

GOAST acronym: Green Organic Agents for Sustainable Tanneries
GOAST technology is based on the combination of innovative chemicals and protocol which allows to produce Chrome-Free high quality leather.
More sustainable tanning process: GOAST technology aims to reduce hazardous substances, environmental risks, water consumption and to simplify the entire tanning process.
No concern substances are discharged into the environment.
Innovative metal-free tanning process.
Leather scraps are also chromium-free, which can be fully recycled.

WHAT
LIFE GOAST project is an European project funded by LIFE Programme, which focuses on the implementation of a novel leather tanning technology. Therefore, LIFE GOAST combines the expertise on leather chemical auxiliaries with high level tanning competences and waste-water treatment management to give an innovative and complete approach to leather tannage.

WHO
The project is carried out by four members, which are GSC Group spa (Coordinating Beneficiary), Conceria Pasubio (Associate), Medio Chiampo (Associate) and Università di Venezia (Associate). The project brings together the expertise and competences of an international leader in leather-tanning auxiliary production GSC, with a tannery represented by Conceria Pasubio and waste-water treatment provider Medio Chiampo; the three partners are sustained by UNIVE which gives environmental and technical support to the project.

WHY
Leather manufacturing is classified as water, energy and waste intensive and it is considered to be an activity demanding for integrated prevention and control of pollution.
The aim of the project is to demonstrate that the implementation of LIFE GOAST technology on a semi-industrial scale is more environmental friendly than Traditional Chrome Tanning Process (TCTP). Ultimately, it is aimed to obtain better quality leather products with lower environmental impact and costs and no concern substances disposal.
At present, over 85% of the world leather production is chrome tanned, which poses serious environmental and health problems due to the formation of carcinogenic Cr (VI) in finished articles, prompting users to find innovative solutions (European IPPC Bureau report 2013).
LIFE GOAST project will aim at demonstrating sustainability of the overall production chain from manufacturing of leather articles to treatment of solid and liquid wastes.

WHEN
The project started on July 2017 and will finish on June 2020.

WHERE
The project is based in the Veneto region of Italy

PROCESS

  1. GOAST TECHNOLOGY has been developed in a very similar scenario to TCTP (Traditional Chrome Tanning Process).
  2. After DELIMING and BATING, the leather is prepared to be tanned with a «gentle» PICKLING (approximately pH 3.5).
  3. Then GOAST TANNING AGENT is added, followed by drum rotation.
  4. The tanning agent is an acrylic copolymer specially enriched with collagen reactive groups (Polymer Reactive Group PRG).
  5. Then, tannins are eventually added (synthetic, semi-synthetic or naturals).
  6. After overnight automatic rotation, the leather is tanned.

LEATHER

  1. The leather tanned with GOAST TECHNOLOGY is white
  2. The COD of the tanning bath is less than 30000 mg O2/l
  3. The TKN of the tanning bath is negligible
  4. No H2SO4, nor sulphates are added to the waste (the «gentle» pickling can be realized by organic acids).
  5. Tg is moderate (72-74°C)
  6. Investigation on leather shavings in progress (characterization of the side-product and reutilization)