y t i l i b a n i a t s u S W E W O R K W I T H N AT U R E T O P R O D U C E T H E B E S T N AT U R A L F I B R E S
/ Sustainable Production SMETA Our tannery is a member of SEDEX, one of the world’s leading ethical trade service providers.
We’re independently audited yearly by SMETA for health & safety, treatment of workers & more.
Energy We work hard to use sustainable forms of energy to drastically reduce our emissions. This includes: » We use solar power to heat up 2M litres of water in our tannery every week. » Heat recycled from drying rooms produces hot water; with cold air reused for air conditioning. » We have replaced our coal boiler with natural gas, significantly reducing our carbon footprint.
Water Water plays a huge part in our production process. Over the last 5 years, we’ve been able to reduce our water usage by an average of 15% annually! This has been achieved by: » Reusing and recycling 70% of used water back into production. » Installing a new water treatment plant which has resulted in outputs being reduced well below regulatory requirements. » Treating 100% of water on-site before secondary treatment by the local city council.
Recycling
BIOWASTE RECOVERED FOR BIOFUEL
We recycle and reuse as many materials as possible during our production process. This not only saves energy and resources but saves us money.
WOOD AND PLASTIC RECYCLED
Highlights include: » 95% of salt used in the curing process is recovered for reuse. » Biowaste and grease recovered from our dry-clean plant. » Wooden pallets, empty drums, plastic and cardboard waste are onsold or recycled.
95
%
REDUCTION IN NEW SALT USED
Minimal Chemicals We’ve developed efficiencies in our tanning process that significantly reduce our use of chemicals. Highlights include:
30%
» New enzyme technology is used to reduce the use of detergents and surfactants by 30%.
PRODUCTS TESTED FOR SAFE USE AGAINST SKIN
» Chemical recycling enables an annual reduction in our use of chemicals of 15%. » Lower chemical levels in our process water enable us to achieve significantly lower outputs in our waste water than are required by environmental regulations. » With low levels of safe chemicals we are able to achieve the OEKO-TEX Leather Standard for the safety of our products in close contact with human skin.
REDUCTION OF DETERGENTS & SURFACTANTS
15%
REDUCTION IN NEW CHEMICALS USED
Emissions One of our key sustainability aims is to reduce emissions into our natural environment. We use solar to heat our water and prioritise sea freight over air. » Solar energy produces zero emissions. » We use solar energy to heat up to 2,000,000 litres (approximately 530,000 gallons) of water per week. » Sea freight emits approximately 33 times less carbon dioxide than airfreighting. » We use sea freight to ship all raw materials and a majority of finished products.
Scrap/Damaged Skin Utilisation Wherever possible we use damaged skins and skin offcuts in our production. We craft beautiful, long lasting products from what would otherwise be thrown away. By making sure nothing is unnecessarily wasted, we’re doing our part to save resources.
/ Safe Products We ensure that our products are independently tested and our production facilities are regularly audited to ensure they meet all applicable international standards.
REACH
Annual Testing
None of our products contain substances of high concern listed in the European Union’s REACH regulations Annex XVII.
We regularly submit our sheepskins to chemical testing at Intertek laboratories to ensure our products are free from pesticide residues, traces of formaldehyde, heavy metals, and AZO dyestuffs.
OEKO-TEX Leather Standard We carry out stringent tests annually to ensure our products are safe for close contact with human skin. We maintain an OEKO-TEX Leather Standard certification in Class 1 and Class 2 for Ivory, and Class 2 for all of our light and medium-coloured long wool and short wool products.
Customer Audits We are regularly audited by major retail brands, each requiring compliance with their own specific ethical, social, environmental & chemical standards.
ISO9001:2015
Woolmark Our Woolmark certification ensures we are a supplier of authentic sheepskin products.
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED SUPPLIER
We meet the quality standards set by the ISO, who monitor the systems, processes and responsibilities needed to maintain the safety and specification accuracy of our products.
/ Ethical Sourcing Ethical sourcing is vital to our group’s DNA All of our skins are a by-product of the meat industry, eliminating unnecessary harm or waste.
New Zealand’s farms are:
Most of our sheepskins come from New Zealand - a country with the world’s highest Global Animal Protection Index.
» Are regulated by strict environmental codes like the AsureQuality standard.
Recognised animal welfare standards
» Some of the greenest in the world, allowing animals to roam freely.
» Recognised with an ‘A’ rated Animal Protection Index (equal with the UK, Austria and Switzerland).
Sustainably managed farms
For more detailed information please visit www.fibrebyauskin.com/why-natural-fibre/sheepskin-ethical-sourcing
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Ethically Sourced, Sustainably Produced, Family Safe.
Australian Office salesaustralia@auskin.com Tel +61 7 5592 4785 European Office saleseurope@auskin.com Tel +49 4431 709400 NZ Office salesnz@auskin.com Tel +64 3 337 1731 USA Office salesusa@auskin.com Tel +1 303 420 9139 Free Phone: 888 528 7546 (US only) A0166-0
www.fibrebyauskin.com