Every day, our world population is growing rapidly. This means that not only are there more people on this planet, but they also must be fed. And although there are many different non meat-eating lifestyles (such as vegetarianism and veganism), over 90% of people still eat meat. But what happens to the waste that remains?
Animals, such as cows, pigs, sheep and goats are primarily bred for their meat. In case of cows they are also held for their milk, and sheep for their wool. But that doesn’t mean that we should throw away the rest, right? Think about the bones, the blood, but also the hides. These so-called ‘by-products’ are very useful and can be transformed into new products or specific ingredients. For example:
?The bones are used for gelatin (incorporated in candy or other food purposes);
?The blood is turned into blood powder (which can be used as bait for large fishes);
?And the hide is used for collagen (found in cosmetics but also medicine) and for leather of course.
These are only a few examples, but it gives you a good idea where the 15-20% of the animal (which is not used in the food industry) goes. In the end, almost every part of the animal is turned into a useful product or ingredient. This means that, as leather producers, we contribute to a circular economy where nothing goes to waste.
