RECYCLED LEATHER
What is recycled leather ?
It`s unique patented process employs high-pressure water jets to force the recycled leather fibres through an integral textile reinforcement core. It`s a process that has major environmental advantages over conventional bonded leather, as it uses no chemicals (no adhesives, no resins ).Its process is a continuous closed-looped system with 95% of water recycled. It is a clean technology product using sustainable natural leather fibers and 100% zero carbon electricity in its production process.
How It`s Made ?
Step 1: The Base Materials of ELFA leather is leather shavings and trimmings.
Step 2: Leather shavings and trimmings undergo a fiberisation process which shreds and upgrades them into fine usable fibres .
Step 3: Leather fibers are formed into two layers on both sides of a micro textile core.They are fastened with high pressure water jets rather than chemical adhesives.
Step 4: After color impergnation ,a pu finish coats the leather and a release paper template gives the surface a leather effect grain.
Step 5: After final inspection and quality assurance it is ready to be rolled . On a roll the leather is more functional to use and will produce less cuttings and wastages in the further use .
Production Process
The Best Alternative To Traditional Leather(recycled leather)
Traditional leather is being rivalled by manmade alternatives. The latest in this new generation is recycled leather.
Made from discarded ‘wet blue’ leather off-cuts that normally end up in landfill, recycled leather saves needless waste. Plus it’s available to cut from the roll. So Unlike leather hides there’s minimal wastage and, of course, lower material costs. Not all recycled leathers are the same…
Recycled leather comes in numerous forms. Most rely on adhesives and resins to bond the leather fibres together to form the material. However, recycled leather from ELFA leather is different. The ELFA leather patented process uses no chemicals and resins whatsoever but just water alone. With its strong eco credentials, high performance and low cutting wastage, recycled leather from ELFA leather enterprise is fast becoming the material of choice for the footwear, leather goods, upholstery and transport sectors.
Why use recycled leather as an alternative to traditional leather?
Recycled leather has all the natural benefits of traditional leather plus it is more eco-friendly, saves wastage, is lighter (for less fuel consumption), more durable, both cheaper and easier to keep clean and can be relied on for consistency of colour and texture. For Example as below :
Recycled Leather VS Traditional Leather Hides
Recycled Leather |
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Less wastage,more cost effective Cut from rolls 1400mm wide.Length is long |
Leather hides(at widest point): 914.4mmLength:2286mm | |
Resistant to cracking,tearing and puncturingIts unique core reinforment textile provides
high performance,improving its quality and feel. |
Can be prone to cracking ,tearing and puncturing, especially split leather |
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More durable – Scuff and scratch resistant
thanks to an easy to keep clean pu coating. |
Prone to scuffs and scratches.
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Up to 50% lighter – Helping transport
Companies save on fuel consumption and reduce their carbon footprint. |
Weight disadvantage, particularly to transportation applications. |
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Uniform texture – Made from leather fibers and given an artificial pattern for a consistent Flawless finish and feel.
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Inconsistent texture – Made from hides which can be looser and more stretchable in the Belly and flank areas and relatively tight Across the backbone. |
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Uniform shade – Made from leather fibers
pigmented for a consistent flawless color.
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Inconsistent Shade – Each hide is different and has a unique grain texture.This results in the dyes and finishes penetrating the grain in Varying degrees. |
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More flexible and easier to sew. | Can be fairly rigid limiting applications | |
Wipe clean with a damp cloth – No chemical cleaners or costly cleaning maintenance Needed to continually look good. |
Cleaning detergents and leather restorative products needed as well as the associated time and costs. |
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Recycled Leather is a better value
alternative to traditional leather
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Leather is expensive,pricing itself out of Large-scale upholstery applications in Particular. |
Why Recycled leather can be better than traditional leather?
Recycled leather outperforms traditional leather in several key areas.
Price
Compared with Traditional Leather hides , price is more competitive .
Environmentally friendly
Made from discarded wet blue leather off-cuts that normally end up in landfill ,together with high pressure water jets to force the natural leather fibers through an integral textile reinformancement core.It is a clean eco-friendly material ,no chemicals (no adhesives ,no resins), what`s more ,to reduce the pollution of wet blue leather hides` cuttings and trimmings to environment.
Higher Cutting Yield
More cost efficient for many applications, cut from a roll not from hides for less wastage and reduced costs ( Recycled leather is supplied in rolls resulting in only 5% cutting wastage compared to up to 40% wastage for leather hides .)
Safety Fire Proof standards
Excellent flame retardancy endorsed by British and European fire and safety standards.
Better for product consistency
Manufactured from leather fibres so unlike leather hides has no natural defects and results in minimal batch-to-batch variation for a flawless finish.
Customisable design options
Bespoke colours are available plus various grains and the ability to emboss with company or brand logos.
Significant fuel savings
Up to 50% lighter than traditional leather, recycled leather is critical in helping transport applications to lower emissions, fuel consumption and reduce their carbon footprint.
Reduces landfill costs
Less wastage reduces landfill levies
High durability
Recycled leather`s reinforced textile core enables the leather to resist tearing and gives it greater elasticity. Ideal for heavy use applications from passenger seating to handbags and wallets.
Easy care
Simply wipes clean with a dampened cloth, thereby avoiding the need for costly cleaning products and maintenance.
Protect Animals
To reduce the killing of animals ,conforming to the policy of Animal Protection Countries and Organization.