The leather manufacturing process is divided into three fundamental subprocesses: … See more

In general, leather is produced in the following grades:
• Top-grain leather includes the outer layer of the hide, known as the grain, which features finer, more densely packed fibers, resulting in … See more

Today, most leather is made of cattle hides, which constitute about 65% of all leather produced. Other animals that are used include sheep (about 13%), goats (about 11%), and pigs (about 10%). Obtaining accurate fig… See more

Leather produces some environmental impact, most notably due to:
• The carbon footprint of cattle rearing (see environmental impact of meat production)
• Use of chemicals in the tanning process (e.g., … See more

Enzymes like proteases, lipases, and amylases have an important role in the soaking, dehairing, degreasing, and bating operations of leather manufacturing. Proteases are the most commonly used enzymes i… See more

The natural fibers of leather break down with the passage of time. Acidic leathers are particularly vulnerable to red rot, which causes powdering of the surface and a change in consistency. Damage from red rot is aggra… See more