Our experience and ambition have fueled our knowledge database. Browse through our articles or search a specific topic. What are you looking for? Our topics Biodegradability Bisphenol Chemicals & substances Finishing Leather Renewability Sustainability Tanning The leather industry Wet End How different industries are turning waste material into everyday products Did you know it is nearly impossible to live a completely vegan life? Veganism is a popular lifestyle, often chosen for its alleged health benefits and love of animals. However, simply adopting a vegan diet, does not rule out the possibility you are still using products containing animal-origin elements on a daily basis… However, this is not something to worry about! At Royal Smit & Zoon we think it is a good thing that waste from one industry is being upcycled and repurposed in others. Take the meat industry as an example. Even with more people adopting a vegan diet, global meat consumption per capita is still increasing. Cows, among other livestock, are being slaughtered to feed this demand. After all of the meat has been removed from the carcass, waste materials of various types remain. Out of respect for the animal, we should try and use all of its resources, instead of discarding its waste. Repurposing waste Out of respect for the animal, we should try and use all of its resources, instead of discarding its waste. The hide, for instance, can be treated responsibly and made into long lasting leather. At Royal Smit & Zoon we work hard to provide sustainable tanning agents and treatments, to create beautiful and even circular leather. Other industries repurpose waste from the meat industry into (ingredients of) a number of widely used everyday products, too. Ranging from collagen used for cosmetics, to horns used as ingredient for plant food or conditioner. Making informed decisions By creating awareness, Royal Smit & Zoon hopes to help you make an informed decision. Before you go vegan, or abandon leather products, think about the alternative (“vegan leather” is usually plastic-based!) and the implications. As long as people are eating meat, leather is a responsible and sustainable choice. It is a natural waste product from the meat industry, which otherwise would end up in landfill and be burned off… Which is obviously a lot worse for the environment than repurposing it into a long-lasting material for people to wear and enjoy!
