Aviation leather supplier Muirhead has now replaced existing tanning chemistry with compostable technology, marking a progress in its plan of eliminating fossil fuels, oil-based elements, and heavy metals from all its operations and products.

The resulting product, known as ‘FreeTAN’ is free from heavy metals, chrome, and glutaraldehyde. This not only reduces its environmental impact but also ensures the product continues to meet customers’ standards. The technology is also a non-toxic fire-retardant treatment that offers the lowest environmental impact aviation leather available today.

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Stephen Hems, Innovation Manager at Scottish Leather Group, said: “Tanning is a crucial part of leather production, whereby raw hides are treated in drums to transform them into our high-performance material. For over two decades, we’ve invested heavily in new initiatives to develop future-proof tanning systems that deliver unparalleled consistency and high technical excellence without relying on chrome salts and glutaraldehyde.

 “These technologies are a vital next step in our journey to increase the bio-based renewable carbon content of our leather to 90% and above. However, this marks just the beginning. The leather of the future is 100% bio-based, entirely chrome-free, heavy metal-free, aldehyde-free, and fully biodegradable.”

The brand will be exhibiting the new product tech at AIX in Hamburg later this year.