CLRI Achievements in Utilization of Solid Waste from the Meat and Leather Industry

Several byproducts arise out of slaughter houses, meat processing units and leather goods and footwear industries. The byproducts from slaughterhouses include blood, stomach, intestines, ruminal contents, bones, horns, hooves, hair, etc. The solid wastes emanated from the tanneries and leather goods industries are limed hides/skin fleshings and trimmings, hair, chrome shavings, finished leather wastes, etc. In many developing countries, these byproducts are being discarded as waste or underutilized. Processing of certain byproducts such as rumen contents, bones, blood, hair, chrome shavings, hide/skin trimmings into valuable products are discussed in this article. Similarly, conversion of some of the byproducts such as intestines, bones, blood and fish scales into value-added biomedical devices is discussed in this presentation. Approximately 20–30% of finished solid wastes are generated from leather goods/footwear processing units. Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) has developed processes to convert of these solid wastes into regenerated leathers (RGL) and leather blended fabrics (LBF) using leather fibers and plant fibers like cotton, coconut, hibiscus, polyester fibers. Consumer products can be prepared using RGL and LBF. Another process of preparation parchment like leather material from chrome shavings, developed by CLRI is discussed in this article. In view of the great economic impact of the byproducts from slaughterhouses, tanneries and leather processing industries, there is an immediate need to develop appropriate technologies suitable for developing countries to optimize the use of all byproducts.