reProLeather Project creates biodegradable recycled leather

H&M Foundation is working on a program called Planet First to make the fashion industry more environmentally friendly. One of the projects in this program is reProLeather, aimed at finding a solution to the leather recycling problem. The result is a new technology that can separate harmful chemicals from recycled leather fibers and create a biodegradable alternative to PU and PVC binders, forming a new type of recycled leather that can be recycled again.

The reProLeather project is different from the traditional method. Instead of using non-biodegradable binders like PU and PVC, they use eco-friendly chemicals and bio-based binders. This innovative approach is thanks to the technology developed by The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) with support from H&M Foundation.

The reProLeather project has shown success by turning post-consumer leather fibers into usable leather sheets during its research phase. Now, HKRITA is looking for partners in the industry to make improvements and enhance the properties of production, making it more useful and applicable for the future.

Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead at H&M Foundation, emphasized their dedication to making a positive impact on the fashion industry. They take risks and invest in finding innovative solutions to benefit the planet. Dolva encourages sharing these findings openly with others and hopes that reProLeather can be one of the solutions adopted on a larger scale in the near future.