Leather Tanning Methods Comparison
Performance and Application Analysis of Traditional Crafts and Environmental Technologies
| Tanning Method | Core Materials | Finished Product Characteristics | Environmental Friendliness | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chrome Tanning
|
Trivalent Chromium Salts
|
Soft, easy to dye, resistant to bending
|
Requires Chromium Pollution Treatment |
Shoe Leather, Sofa Leather
|
|
Vegetable Tanning
|
Vegetable Tannins
|
Stiff, color-developing, natural and environmentally friendly
|
High |
Handmade Leather Goods, Luggage
|
|
Aldehyde Tanning
|
Formaldehyde/Glutaraldehyde
|
White and Washable
|
Aldehyde Risk |
Light-Colored Clothing, Gloves
|
|
Chromium-Free Tanning
|
Zirconium/Titanium Salts, Zeolites, etc.
|
No Heavy Metals, Low Toxicity
|
High |
Baby Products, Medical Leather
|
|
Biological Tanning
|
Microorganisms/Plant Extracts
|
Degradable, Low Carbon
|
Extremely High |
Sustainable Fashion, Experimental Products
|
Tanning Method Explanations
Traditional Crafts
Chrome tanning, vegetable tanning, and aldehyde tanning are mainstream processes with a long history, accounting for over 90% of global leather production. Among them, chrome tanning is the most widely used method due to its high efficiency and low cost.
Environmental Trends
Chromium-free tanning and biological tanning technologies are gradually being adopted by high-end brands due to their compliance with sustainable development concepts, especially in the EU and North American markets where demand has grown significantly.
Technological Innovations
New tanning technologies (such as genetic engineering tanning agents and nanomaterial tanning) are being developed in laboratories and may completely change the production model of the leather industry in the future.