Abstract:
The stringent environmental regulations and compliance regarding leather tanning has compelled leather
industry to seek alternative cleaner ingredients that have the capacity to minimize or prevent pollution caused
by hazardous chemicals. Practical measures have so far involved replacing the current use of synthetic chemicals
such as chromium salts, dyes, fatliquors and surfactants or minimizing their usage by incorporating agro-based
organic components. Numerous papers have documented the use of different plant extracts at different
stages of leather processing such as tanning, retanning, dyeing and fatliquoring. This present article details
the specific plants and the leather processing stage at which they are applied and eventually the quality of the
resulting leather. This article attempts to compile a considerable number of investigations published on physical
properties of leather that is processed using natural plants. It has been shown that there are striking similarities
in leather properties of leather processed using natural plants and using synthetic chemicals. This could help
in compiling a database that details works on natural plants, stages of application and the corresponding
physical properties which could provide a crucial assistance to research focusing on environmental protection
and physical properties of leather which would in turn improve the quality of the resulting leather.
