Planet
Management approach.
In 2003 Scottish Leather Group launched its zero waste strategy. We have dramatically (by 90%) reduced the average carbon intensity (measured as CO2 equivalent) per hide of our leather by switching to 100% renewable electricity and converting our own process waste into energy.
As we approach the final stages of that journey, we are 90% toward our 2025 goal of achieving 100% zero GHG emissions across Scope 1 & 2. Additionally, we have reached 89% of our zero waste-to-landfill target, up from 77% last year, with nearly all waste now being recycled or recovered through our processes.
We are committed to the sustainable manufacturing of leather and reducing the footprint of our own operations.
Sustainable innovations, circularity of product design.
We work closely with customers in achieving their ambitions towards a net zero future. This is captured in all our initiatives as well as in our innovation agenda.
Sustainability and innovation go hand-in-hand. Continuous innovation is how we will reach our goal of net zero carbon by 2025, and our customers demand the same innovation in our products and services.
The Group has committed to a formal innovation agenda, putting in place a system that encourages and nurtures new ideas – a platform to take our business forward.
Over the last seven years, some £14 million has been invested in a wide range of strategic innovations and improvements, culminating in the opening of the Super Tannery in September 2023, incorporating innovative hide processing technology that ensures consistency of quality while further enhancing environmental performance, reducing energy and water use by 82% and 42% respectively.
"The year ahead will see us focus on introducing more biobased or benign content into our leather-making process."
Key measurements.
Our LCA
We produce the world’s lowest carbon leather as measured using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). This is a methodology for measuring the true long-term impact of a service or product.
LCA is a powerful tool for measuring how responsible our consumption and production is, enabling a true and fair comparison against the impact of other products and materials.
Our Life Cycle Analysis of 8kg CO2e/m2 offers our customers an independently verified and quantifiable contribution to their Scope 3 reduction targets.
"Our patented circular manufacturing process minimises waste to landfill and radically reduces our carbon footprint."
Resource stewardship
We source natural, clean, local water from our own loch. The water is “borrowed”; we treat it, recycle it or discharge the treated water back to the same watershed (same river) without consuming any, according to LCA.
A further benefit of water recycling is heat recovery, accounting for up to half of our water heating demand.
The Group ensures that all materials used throughout our leather production are responsibly sourced and that our production carbon intensity is constantly improving, such as through the use of certified 100% renewable electricity.
"Our ultrafiltration plant enables us to recycle up to 40% of our treated water back into use within production."
ESG Report.
Our annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report summarises our activities, commitments and innovation agenda. All supporting and driving us towards a more sustainable future.