Denmark-based producer of wet blue and wet white Scan-Hide has paid tribute to the help it has received from two of its partners in producing biodegradable leather, reports Leatherbiz.

Arizona Muse bag from Anya Hindmarch

Scan-Hide spin-off Spoor received positive publicity when it supplied biodegradable leather from traceable hides for a collection of handbags that London-based designer Anya Hindmarch brought out at the end of last year.

In making the semi-processed leather, Scan-Hide used the metal-free tanning system Zeology that Smit & Zoon launched in 2020 and has brought to market through its new Nera division. Finishing took place at German tannery Richard Hoffmans.

The chief executive of Scan-Hide, Michael Søndergaard, has now said he would like to process all of the group’s hides using Zeology within three or four years. He explained: “It would be a huge step in the green transition. It is a revolution in our business that we are now able to provide a green tanning method to the customers. We can start phasing out chemicals that have been used for ages in our industry.”

His calculation is that tanning hides in this way will add between 15% and 20% to costs, but he said he was confident many brands would be willing to pay extra.