Tanning leather environmental assessment: A case study in leon, mexico.

Abstract (English)

Purpose. The tanning industry generates a significant amount of pollutants throughout its processes, posing risks to the environment, as well as to overall human health. This paper aims to present a case study conducted at two associated tanning companies in Leon, Mexico, in order to identify opportunities for improvement for reducing potential hazards. Design/methodology/approach. Two main approaches were utilized for the case study: a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to identify potential global warming and climate change impacts at the production cycle, and a review of the chemical products used in the tanning process via the Hazard Statement Codes of the Globally HarmonizedSystem of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Findings. The most significant environmental impacts identified through LCA occurred during the drying and fatliquoring stages. In the global warming-related impacts, both stages measured 8,744.51 kg CO2eq, while in climate change-related impacts, the result was 10,582.75 kg CO2eq. In the GHS chemical review, 35 hazardous chemical