BRUSSELS, Belgium —Hulshof Royal Dutch Tanneries, a completely vertical tanner, has developed a biodegradable leather which can be buried in a landfill or garden and turned into compost in just six weeks, according to Dr. Herman M.H.M Hulshof, chairman, who says he was born in the tannery where he has been since 1981.

He questions why so many manufacturers coat their leather with plastic instead of using aniline leather with all of its defects. He said that more aniline leather will be sold in the future as consumers demand the natural leather.

Hulshof expects to develop a line of biodegradable leather sport shoes for Nike in the future but for now,  he wears a pair of green biodegradable leather sport shoes just to promote the new idea. Hulshof also exports its product to Hong Kong and China, Dubai and the USA. About 80 percent of the business is geared to export. Drs Herman M.H.M. HulshofHulshof began its business in 1876. He supplies high end hides to Roux in France; Hoffmans in Germany and Townsend in USA. Long-term, he said that tanneries will decrease making Hulshof even more of a niche brand.

Although the Hulshof biodegradable leather is currently only available in green or blue, Hulshof expects that dyestuffs in other colors will eventually become available. “This is a novelty item without a big turnover yet,” he said just after winning a Blue Drop award from MoOD for the innovative leather.

“We charge a 10-20 percent premium for biodegradable leather and when you calculate the real cost to the environment of leather that does not decompose in the landfill, what we charge is cheap in comparison  to the cost of real leather which lasts 100 years!”

He said that in general, “there are more people but less hides available so in the long run, leather prices must go up.” Hulshof is a leather entrepreneur. He has developed a biogas process made from the solid byproducts of the tanning process including the wastewater. “We produce methane in this fashion which we sell to industry. This is an aerobic process. We also have a third company which produces animal protein fiber—the most expensive protein available--all realized from the tanning process.”

Biogas is currently a one million Euro business for Hulshof while animal protein will increase from 6 million to 12 million Euros in the years ahead, he said. While tanning is a declining business, overall, his business should increase, he pointed out. Part of the problem is that finishing capacity is 50 percent less than tanning capability, he said. “By developing these businesses, we have a more sustainable process. I sleep better knowing we are responsible,” he said.          F&FI