Through its “Made to be Reborn” protocol, Silvateam is guaranteeing leather a second life by focusing on two core areas: building multiple recycling pathways and championing the principles of eco-design
Natural solutions are the foundation on which Silvateam has built its identity and “Zero Waste” philosophy showcased at Lineapelle, a message further reinforced by the design of the stand.
This year, with the claim ‘From leather to life,’ we wanted to highlight how the naturalness of our tanning formulations allows Ecotan® leather to be valued even at the end of its life cycle,” explains Antonio Battaglia, BU Leather Director at Silvateam.
The “Made to be Reborn” research project, developed in partnership with CTC Ars Tinctoria, under the direction of Gustavo Adrián Defeo, has successfully produced a formal protocol. This protocol, in compliance with UNI EN 16848, validates the end-of-life options of Ecotan® leather, confirming its ability to return the resources initially borrowed from nature through virtuous processes like conversion into bio-fertilizer, compost and biochar.
“Our greatest achievement was delivering a scientifically proven roadmap – supported by third-party certifications – covering every possible recycling pathway for leather,” Battaglia adds.
Leather is naturally sustainable from the very beginning. Its high bio-based content, achieved through the use of natural tanning solutions, demonstrates a strong commitment to the transformation, degradation and reuse of this valuable material – offering tangible benefits for the wellbeing of our planet.
“Take the plant response as an example: when nourished with the biofertilizer derived from Ecotan® leathers, plants thrive, boosting soil fertility, vegetative growth and overall wellness. This positive result stems from the high content of micronutrients naturally available in the hides, such as biocarbon and nitrogen, as well as the tannin’s antibacterial properties,” notes Battaglia.
Today, ‘green by design’ materials – consciously engineered from inception to minimize environmental impact and maximize sustainability – represent a powerful and accelerating market trend. “More than four years after the launch of the Ecotan® project,” Battaglia continues, “we remain the only company in the sector truly guided by the principles of sustainability. We use natural tannins and biopolymers to produce biocircular leathers – free from chrome, metals and glutaraldehyde – which are rigorously tested before entering the market. While we recognize that such a major shift, following decades of chrome tradition, cannot happen overnight, Silvateam is genuinely pushing the envelope by proactively moving ahead of upcoming regulations. What the industry truly needs now is strong, sector-wide legislation that applies equally to everyone and clearly communicates to the consumer that every purchase decision is underpinned by a material eco-design choice.”
The path toward reducing emissions is irreversible – the real challenge lies in the speed of execution.
“Time is the decisive factor,” Battaglia concludes. “Every delay risks widening the gap between sustainability promises and concrete action. At Silvateam, we believe the future cannot wait. That is why we are committed to developing next-generation materials, designed to have multiple second lives – well beyond their primary use – so that brands and designers can embrace true circularity. Our mission is clear: optimize resources, minimize waste and lead the industry toward a genuinely sustainable future.”
ecotanleather.com – www.silvateam.com – SILVATEAM