JBS transforms leather scraps into fertilizer in Europe
The company began exporting 550 tons of the material monthly from three of its four factories (Itumbiara, Uberlândia, and Lins) to Italy.
JBS Couros, a global leader in the leather segment, has redefined the concept of industrial waste by transforming leather shavings, resulting from the leather shaving process to achieve the ideal thickness of the piece, into a source of revenue. The company has started exporting 550 tons of this material monthly from three of its four factories (Itumbiara, Uberlândia, and Lins) to Italy, where the shavings are used as raw material in the production of fertilizers, transforming waste into revenue.
As a result, the company's products have already registered an average reduction of 15% in carbon emissions, reaching up to 25% in some cases. "This project shows that each link in the chain can generate value. We transformed challenges into opportunities. With innovation and focus, we have proven that it is possible to be sustainable, profitable, and efficient at the same time," says Guilherme Motta , president of JBS Couros.
This innovation is part of a broader strategy of total utilization of raw materials by JBS Couros. Launched in 2019, Kind Leather is another pillar of this vision. The technology optimizes the use of the hide from the beginning, removing the less usable parts before tanning, transforming what would otherwise be waste into a co-product for other industries. This approach increases leather yield and significantly reduces water, energy, and solid waste consumption.
How JBS redefines the value of leather
Annually, millions of hides are processed in JBS Couros' 21 industrial units, distributed across four continents. This volume positions the Company as one of the world's largest producers of the material.
With a production system that includes meticulous handling at each stage, customers have access to a high value-added product. "Our role is to complete the value chain cycle of livestock farming, transforming a by-product into a high-quality material", points out Motta. "We serve sectors with rigorous standards that demand not only excellence in the final product, but also a guarantee of origin and a responsible production process", he adds.
In Italy, the Company maintains Conceria Priante, a world reference in design, machinery and the most modern technologies for leather production. In addition to producing high-standard articles, the unit functions as a trend laboratory, where finishes, colors and textures are developed that reach renowned international brands. "The proximity to the world's major design centers allows us to anticipate demands and create solutions that influence the entire sector", comments the executive.
By integrating technology, sustainability, and end-to-end control, JBS Couros is reshaping the perception of leather processing: from a simple byproduct to a beautiful, durable, and comfortable asset, always innovating by bringing solutions in circular economy and increasing the efficiency of the production chain.
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