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Scoping & Sustainability Analysis of the Leather Industry Network (Draft)
The Slaughter houses, Tanneries and Leather manufacturing industries can be considered to be the major constituents of the leather industry network, considering their impact on the environment and the work force employed therein. All these players of the leather industry network are contributing to the social, economic and environmental sustainability and unsustainability aspects of this network.
Economic Aspects
Economic Sustainability
Modern leather production requires a steady supply of raw materials. This explains the development of the tanning sector notably in those countries and regions well endowed with an abundant supply of raw hides or skins. The production of raw hides and skins depends on animal population and slaughter rate and is related mainly to meat consumption that is why the tanning industry does not respond directly to the laws.
India is known to produce some superior qualities of hides and skins. The goat skins of North Bihar and Bengal (The Ganges valley) possess very fine grain and are prized all over the world as the finest raw material for superior glazed kid leather. The current annual availability of hides and skins is placed around 160 million pieces. It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of cattle hides and 30 to 40 percent of buffalo’ hides are obtained from fallen stock. In case of cattle hides, only 79 percent of the fallen stock is recovered. In buffaloes hides and sheep skins the recovery is around 90 percent. If the rate of recovery is improved there will be substantial increase in the overall availability of hides and skins. Some amount of raw skin is imported from the foreign countries to prepare fine quality of leather.
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