CSIR comes out with technology for Indian leather sector

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi: CSIR has come out with a “Game changing technology” for enabling the Indian leather sector achieve the target of USD 27 billion by 2020 by making leather processing environmentally sustainable. This “Waterless chrome tanning technology” is a first of its kind technology to reduce chromium pollution load.

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences and Vice President CSIR Dr Harsh Vardhan informed the media about it while addressing a presser in New Delhi  on November 3. The Minister highlighted the strategic role of CSIR in the exemplary growth of the Indian Leather industry, according to a PIB release.

Tracing the history of Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) of CSIR established in 1948, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that this was a unique institute which from the very start had a strong academic and industrial linkage. A tripartite arrangement of industry-academy-research is a first of its kind, which is a role model for other sectors to emulate. The Institute represents the leather sector in all its planning and policy development. Over the years, the Institute is the global hub for transformation of a tradition bound industry into an innovation driven one. Technologies for bio-processing of leather, zero waste water discharge, value added materials from leather and indigenous chemicals for processing, are some of the highlighting features of this institute.

Through the Institute, Indian leather sector strives to achieve economic and environmental sustainability, leading to more than doubling of the annual turnover from the present in about 4 years. CSIR has been hand holding the industry since its establishment and has taken the export turnover of Rs.40 crore in 1960s to Rs 40,000 crores in 2015 through technological interventions, training and service. The re-enabling of the tanneries in Tamil Nadu in 1996 stands a strong testimony to the contributions of this organisation. The Minister said that Chromium is the most sought after tanning agent with about 2.0 billion sq. ft. of leather being made in India. About 20 thousand tons of chrome tanning agent is discharged in the wastewater.  

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that such technological interventions in the leather industry will realise the vision of Make-in-India, in terms of development of first of its kind leather chemicals, environmental friendly leather processing, global fashion forecasting for colours, designs thus leading to increased trade and exports. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan informed the media that CSIR has prepared and submitted to the Government, a Technology Mission plan for Leather sector at a cost of approximately Rs.2,400 crore.