Careers

Royal Smit & Zoon is the world leading manufacturer of sustainable chemicals for leather manufacturing. We are a family business, started in 1821. That is right, our company exists for more than 200 years. We work closely together with leather makers and brands to produce sustainable leather, for your footwear, car interiors, fashion accessoires and other leather goods.

Together, we truly make a difference

As an employee at Royal Smit & Zoon you have the opportunity to make a difference. Together with your colleagues. We develop leather chemicals, but our drive and mission is bigger than that: we take a leading role into making the whole leather industry more sustainable. How do we achieve this?

• Research & Development. Innovating with best in class chemistry that is more sustainable, bio-based and fitting in a circular economy.
• Education and sharing knowledge, not only about chemicals, sustainability and leather making, but also about leather itself. Leather is a beautiful, durable material that is made from a by-product of the meat industry and that fits in a circular economy.
• Collaborations. We sit around the table with brands in fashion, automotive, footwear, furniture and more, but also with young designers, to support and advice in sourcing leather in the most sustainable way.

In 2021 we acquired the predicate “Royal” for the efforts of seven generations of entrepreneurship, innovation and our focus on sustainability in the leather value chain.

6 countries, 400 employees

More than 400 employees worldwide have chosen Royal Smit & Zoon because of the opportunities we can offer them.

This is why

Family culture

Royal Smit & Zoon is a 7th generation owned family company. The warm family culture is felt in our way of working and celebrating.

Meet Our Family

Benefits

A good salary, a healthy work-life balance and more. Discover what Royal Smit & Zoon can offer you.

Working at Royal Smit & Zoon

Our story

The leather industry is one of the oldest manufacturing sectors in the world. The raw hides and skins used in the leather industry come from a waste product of the meat and diary industry. The leather industry has been making a huge progress to manufacture a sustainable and future proof material, bringing comfort, luxury and joy to consumers.

Working in the leather industry, as a manufacturer of chemicals, also means collaborating with all stakeholders in the value chain.  We work together with brands like H&M, PUMA, Michael Kors and many other to create beautiful, luxury leather items.

Leather: a circular material

Leather is a perfect fit in the circular economy. It is a natural material that can be repaired, re-used and recycled. And leather has moreunique qualities such as:

• Durability, a leather product can last a lifetime – and even longer.
• It is made from a by-product of the meat industry. That means it recycles a hide or skin that otherwise would go to waste.
• Leather can be a sustainable, circular and biodegradable material when using the right chemicals.

How is leather made?

A big misconception is that animals are being bred for leather. When it comes to cow, sheep, goat and pig leather, that is never the case. The hides that are used to create leather are a byproduct from the meat and dairy industry. The leather industry is recycling a byproduct and creating a unique material from a skin that would otherwise mostly end up as landfill. As long as people on this planet will be eating meat and consume dairy, there will be hides and skins.

Are you interested to know more about leather and the leather industry? Visit our Knowledge Center for more information.

Learn more about leather