In the wake of the overwhelming Marche footwear boom after World War II, there was also the real growth of tanning companies producing linings and leathers for the shoe industry in the area. The spirit of initiative that characterized entrepreneurial action developed in areas that were economically centred around the growing industrial and productive weight that the Fermano-Maceratese shoe industry was gaining in those years. In short, Italy is producing and researching not only in the tanning hubs of Solofra, Arzignano and Santa Croce, but also in the Marche region. And here, too, operators in the tanning industry are soon to be confronted with the most stringent, impactful and binding environmental and consumer protection issues. Indeed, the pivotal issue for the tanning industry is the adoption of a sustainable production process, i.e., respect for the environment, health and ethics, all extremely discriminating elements today for a path of excellence in world markets.
Among the most relevant and growing tanning companies in the Marche region is certainly Conceria Nuvolari. In fact, the Monte Urano based company specializing in the production and marketing of sheep and cross-grain leathers intended mainly for the footwear, leather goods and fashion apparel industries is among the forerunners in experimenting with a tanning process with the lowest environmental impact. The method developed on the Nature-L® product excludes the use of hexavalent chromium, establishes one of the lowest heavy metal contents on average, and is able to make the leather biodegradable and compostable while enhancing its traditional nature. To neutralize the carbon footprint associated with the entire life cycle of products in the Nature-L® line (calculated by an LCA study conducted by the Milan Polytechnic), the Marche-based company has so far supported four international carbon offset projects in partnership with the nonprofit Climate Network (www.reteclima.it/aziende/nuvolari/).
Sara Santori, CEO and CSR Manager, is leading two other innovative projects regarding sustainability related to product lines already on the market: Graphene Leather® and Skin Goat®. The Graphene Leather® patent transfers the extraordinary characteristics of graphene to leather, making it 99.99% more resistant and antibacterial. The Skin Goat® patent, on the other hand, defines a leather without chemical treatments and with high levels of breathability, thermoregulation and comfort. Skin Goat® can also be made on a Nature-L® basis.
Since June 2021, Conceria Nuvolari was granted Società Benefit (Benefit company) status, which formalized its commitment to making sustainable choices on leather processing methods and the management of greenhouse gas emissions associated with business operations. The name change attests to the desire of the company to produce social and environmental benefits simultaneously with the achievement of its profit goals. Finally, in 2022, Conceria Nuvolari presented its first Sustainability Report.
The unstoppable green trend in the fashion and luxury sector is also met by Santori Pellami’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions both on the front of mitigating environmental impact in production processes and from the point of view of product innovation. The Monte Urano based tannery, founded in 1890 and now in its fourth generation, is an established and dynamic business that is always in step with the times. Among the most advanced proposals, Naturella® is a patented tanning process with reduced water consumption, chromium-free and low in toxic and allergenic heavy metals. An environmentally friendly treatment that can guarantee a biodegradable leather with all the physical characteristics and durability typical of a traditional product. The Marche- based company is a member of the Leather Working Group, an international nonprofit organization responsible for the world’s largest project on leather sustainability.
SARA SANTORI