DesertSpring

Nera Tanning, in cooperation with Enviu and SN Botanicals, is developing a revolutionary, circular, metal- and chrome-free tanning concept based on the extract of the Sea buckthorn plant. The concept is called ‘DesertSpring’; it is bringing back life to desert grounds while making the leather value chain more sustainable. DesertSpring is still in the conceptional development phase.

Micro-Fresh ®

Royal Smit & Zoon became the distributor for Micro Fresh® in the leather industry. Micro-Fresh® developed materials such as leather with an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal performance. Micro Fresh® started as an innovative formula that solved the problem of bacterial growth during the transit of retail goods. 15 years later, their multi-award-winning technology is used by major retailers and manufacturers around the world to achieve lifetime product freshness. Micro Fresh® is an invisible treatment that can be applied at the point of finishing as a viral treatment.

When leather is treated with Micro Fresh® it takes the survival time of COVID-19 from 24-48 hours to two hours. There is also no transmission from the anti-viral coated leathers to other surfaces two hours after contamination of the leathers.

Basetone White Ti-Free

This white pigment is formulated with insoluble inorganic and non-harmful substances and is 100% free of TiO2. The technology of Basetone White TI-Free allows reaching very high covering power and excellent physical fastness properties without losing refraction-index with as a consequent great white intensity. Due to its special formulation, this pigment fits perfectly when used on metal-free white leather following ISO specification 15115: 2019.

Optitan

In 2020, the Optitan range was introduced. In 2021, the whole range was updated and assessed for bisphenols and will allow for leather that meets the upcoming bisphenol requirements.

Bio-based Polyurethanes

Royal Smit & Zoon has launched CODY PUR BIO 100 and CODY PUR BIO 200 which are two partially bio-based polyurethanes. Polyurethanes are among the most versatile and commonly used polymers in the world. With current technology, it is possible to move to partially renewable and sustainable bio-based carbon content. One of the components of polyurethanes is always a polyol. In our innovation, we are using bio polyol instead of fossil based.

Bio polyol or natural oil polyol (NOP) is synthesized from various vegetable oils and other renewable sources, which are a by-product in the pulp and paper industry. Bio polyol offers a higher bio-based carbon content and a reduction in CO2 emissions in the supply chain.

Biopolymers based on sugar beet pectins

At the end of 2021, Royal Smit & Zoon launched its new 100% biobased product BioMax BP 088L. This is the result of the cooperation with Wageningen Food & Biobased Research and Royal Cosun. The BioMax BP 088L serves as a substitute for fossil fuel-based and non-biodegradable polymers in chemicals for the wet-end production process. BioMax BP 088L also positively influences the characteristics of finished leather, especially its color intensity.

Lignin modified re-tanning agents

In 2021, Royal Smit & Zoon made a small industrial-scale production of a product chemically incorporating lignins in phenolic re-tanning agents. The aim is to increase the renewable content by partial replacement of phenol with industrial lignins and possibly improve the biodegradability of phenolic syntans. This small-scale production proved the feasibility of the technology and reconfirmed the leather performance of the pilot product. In addition, the pilot product is very low in free phenol and is free of formaldehyde, displays very low bisphenol emissions, and has increased renewability characteristics. The launch is expected in 2022, after having incorporated the learnings from the small industrial scale productions.

Zeology, the sustainable tanning concept  

In 2021, Nera, a Royal Smit & Zoon brand, further introduced its sustainable tanning concept Zeology to the leather supply chain. Zeology is a truly sustainable alternative to existing tanning agents. It is zeolite-based and therefore chrome-free, heavy metal-free, and aldehyde-free.

Zeology was developed to provide a sustainable alternative to existing tanning agents. Introducing Zeology is another step towards a more sustainable leather value chain. In line with this, Zeology was awarded the ToxFMD Screened Chemistry certification.

What makes Zeology unique, compared to both traditional tanning agents and other existing sustainable alternatives, is that it delivers both sustainability benefits and superior leather performance. Zeo White, the Zeology-tanned leather intermediate, is unsurpassed in characteristics such as grain tightness, physical leather properties, lightfastness, and heat resistance. In addition, its bright white color enables more whiter leather, as well as lighter and brighter colors than were ever possible before. At the time of writing, Zeology has been adopted by a widegrowing number of tanneries and brands, including Anya Hindmarch and PUMA, that focus on creating sustainable product lines with leathers that are biodegradable and compostable. With this, Zeology is already driving a significant impact in making the leather value chain more sustainable.