Union Minister of State of Science and Technology, Earth Science; Prime Minister’s Office and Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh said leather industry in India will aim at net-zero carbon footprint to meet the environmental norms.
He was addressing the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai today.
Singh said the carbon footprint of leather processing activity needs to approach zero levels and the bio-economy of animal skin-derived products is the new mantra of the time.
He said, the carrying capacity requirements of the leather sector in locations like Tamil Nadu demand the implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge as the enforced environmental norm, which is under discussion.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pitch for new innovations and next-generation technologies, Singh said, the sustainability of the leather sector is likely to emerge as the new challenge for CSIR-CLRI in its journey from the platinum to the centenary.
He said, the new vision for leather research and industry during the next 25 years may need to be on sustainability, net-zero carbon footprint, gaining total recyclability of leather-based materials, bio-economy of animal skin-derived products, and ensuring income parity for workers, besides brand building.
Singh offered attractive financial support from DST to Start-ups to come up with innovative and market friendly leather products.
He said, efforts are on to prepare customised footwear for Indians by using 3D technology to scan the feet of the person to prepare their footwear.
He said 73 districts in the country are included to implement the project in the first phase.
Singh said the leather footwear needs to be designed and developed into foot care solutions with foot hygiene and wearer comfort as the Unique Selling Properties.
He said there are as many as half a million cells in the palm of feet that enable the sweating process and leather enjoys an unmatched potential for transpiration.
The Minister also pointed out that Diabetic footwear is one such product that ensures a better quality of life due to the reduction in the abnormal distribution of plantar foot pressure.
