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During the last assembly of Unic, the Union of Italian Tanneries, in addition to the economic data of the sector, the sustainability objectives achieved by the industry were presented, one of the few in the world in which raw material derives from waste from another supply chain, specifically the food one. Globally, 8 million tons of hides deriving from meat processing are recovered and ennobled every year, saving them from the fate of the landfill. Furthermore, Italian tanners have promoted a reuse chain of their own waste, used in the cosmetic, food, agricultural and construction industries, reaching a circularity rate of over 99%.
In this virtuous context, the Venetian Gruppo Mastrotto stands out, one of the protagonists of the global tanning industry, with 22 factories around the world, of which 18 in Italy, and a turnover of over 330 million euros. The company from Arzignano (Vicenza), founded in 1958 by Arcisio Mastrotto and now led by the second generation, with his children Chiara and Graziano, has published its third Sustainability Report, enriching it with a novelty: the certification of its results by of a third party. «It wasn’t an obligation for us, but we made this choice to give a strong signal to the market and to our customers, not only of transparency, but also of determination in pursuing the ambitious goals we have set ourselves», commented Chiara Mastrotto, president of the group.
This third Report confirms some of the results already achieved on the environmental front, adding some significant innovations: among the objectives achieved there is Gold Rating, the maximum recognition of the Lwg (Leather Working Group) certification, with a raw material traceability score equal to 85/100, one of the highest in the industry; moreover, the percentage of electricity supplied from certified renewable sources continues to be 100%. The Carbon Neutrality of scope 1 and 2 of the 40 collections and 1,500 leather colors of Gruppo Mastrotto Express, the prompt delivery leather service, and the adhesion to the United Nations Global Compact, the most extensive international citizenship program of the ‘business.
But then, precisely, the novelties of 2022: the first is the patenting of Reviva, a material that comes from the recovery of leather processing waste, otherwise destined for the incinerator, therefore an example of circularity within circularity, and which also offers many possibilities customization, especially in the fashion and accessories sector. The second innovation included in the report is the achievement of the Leather Standard by Oeko-Tex, a new independent and globally recognized environmental product certification for leather and leather goods, which guarantees the purchase of products that are safe for people’s health and of the environment.
In terms of waste recovery, the Mastrotto Group has also improved the percentage level, reaching 98%, a figure that is approximately 20% higher than the sector average. A mapping activity has been launched for suppliers which makes it possible to evaluate the effective adoption of good practices, in line with the Group’s sustainability principles. The results in the social area were also important: over 90% of employees joined the portal created by Gruppo Mastrotto to manage the corporate welfare system developed in recent years, while training activities continued on employee health and safety workers, with over 4,500 hours provided and a 50% reduction in the indicator relating to the severity of injuries. In this context, the company also obtained the DNA – Difference in Addition award in 2022, recognized by the National Office for Racial Anti-Discrimination of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and open to micro, small, medium and large enterprises, recognizing their projects for increase inclusion and diversity.