The Environment And Borge

Tanning of leather has always had an impact on the environment. The various processes used to convert the hide generate waste and odour. In earlier times, this was a serious problem but today stringent requirements have to be met to limit the impact on the environment. These cover both the employees’ work conditions and the treatment of the tanning effluent.

To meet these demands has required a committed programme of research and improvement over nearly two decades and today Borge Garveri produces leather well within the limits of current legislation.

The water at Borge Garveri is all drawn from the River Lone through our own pumping stations. After tanning, it is all processed through the water treatment plant before being discharged into the sea. The solid waste from the water treatment and production passes through our pioneering gasification plant that converts it into reusable energy. This plant is the first of its kind and has created great interest around the world. The work to improve our standards never ceases and in the last years, we have implemented several new processes.

These include:

• New technology to reduce the use of chrome
• Recycling of vegetable tanning materials to reduce waste
• New liming process that allows the hair to be saved and
  used as an energy source
• Change over to biodegradable emulsifiers, anti-mould,
  and bactericides
• Change to water based finishing systems that reduce
  the need to use solvents
• New finishing equipment to reduce emissions
• Increased solid waste treatment and energy recovery

This continual programme of research and improvement has
already had a considerable impact on the environment.
Research carried out by the University of Bergen to monitor
the water and wildlife of the fjord adjacent to the tannery
shows a steady and good improvement.