We’re Making Important Changes

Fibre by Auskin is driven by a strong ambition to prioritise actions that truly make a difference in environmental sustainability. When it comes to our ecological footprint, we recognise that it is in the production phase of our processes that we can minimise the impact. That's why our goal is crystal clear: to reduce our carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future.

We're actively seeking ways to achieve this goal by sourcing materials that are kinder to the planet, minimising waste generation, and enhancing the efficiency of our production processes. We believe that every small step we take towards sustainability adds up to a significant positive impact. By focusing on these areas and constantly improving our practices, we aim to leave a lighter footprint on our precious environment.

Water Saving Initiatives

Water plays a crucial role in almost every phase of our production process. Nevertheless, we've been working hard over the past few years to make a positive change. By implementing various measures, we have successfully reduced our water consumption in processing sheepskins. Here is a snapshot of our progress:

· In the past 5 years, we have achieved an impressive annual decrease of 15% in our water use. We're proud of this significant achievement and remain committed to further improvements.

· The installation of a new water treatment plant has been instrumental in helping us exceed regulatory requirements. The reduced outputs demonstrate our dedication to responsible water management.

· We're passionate about reusing water whenever possible. Approximately 70% of the water we use is either reused or recycled, contributing to a more sustainable production process.

· All of the water we treat undergoes secondary treatment at our local city water treatment facility. We ensure that there is no direct discharge to the environment, prioritising the protection of our natural surroundings.

· By reducing our water consumption, we're also able to minimise the overall use of chemicals. This not only benefits the environment but also aligns with our commitment to promoting a healthier, more sustainable approach.

· Ultimately, our efforts in reducing water use have resulted in a significant decrease in our environmental impact. We continue to explore innovative ways to preserve this precious resource and further enhance our sustainable practices.

Energy Reduction for a Greener Future

We take energy consumption seriously, and we continuously strive to minimise our environmental impact during the production process. Here's how we're making a difference:

· We closely monitor our energy usage and its distribution throughout our operations. This allows us to consistently find ways to reduce energy consumption per unit of production. By optimising our processes, we're committed to achieving greater efficiency.

· We use revolutionary Auto-Tanning technology, which contributes to the reduction of chemicals, water, energy and COD emissions (Chemical Oxygen Demand). COD is the amount of dissolved oxygen that must be present in water to oxidise chemical organic materials like petroleum. COD is used to gauge the impact that the organic materials will have on the oxygen levels of receiving waters. With the use of this revolutionary technology, we have reduced our COD Emissions by 10%.

· As part of our sustainability journey, we made a significant change by decommissioning our coal boiler and transitioning to natural gas. This switch has resulted in a substantial reduction in carbon emissions, demonstrating our commitment to a greener future.

· Monitoring and adjusting energy usage are just the beginning for us. We actively seek out environmentally-friendly energy alternatives, such as solar power, to decarbonise our production processes. Harnessing the sun's energy, our solar panels efficiently heat up to 2,000,000 litres (approximately 530,000 gallons) of water per week. Our tannery is also located in the North of China, where sunshine is abundant!

· We believe in maximising the potential of energy reuse and recycling. For example, we've implemented innovative systems where heat generated from drying rooms is captured to produce hot water. In turn, the resulting cold air is repurposed for employee air conditioning, ensuring efficient utilisation of energy outputs.

· Embracing innovation, we've installed advanced conveyors and equipment that not only streamline our processes but also reduce the need for forklift usage. This smart solution not only saves energy but also contributes to a lower carbon footprint.

Through these initiatives, we're proud to contribute to a more sustainable future. We'll continue exploring new opportunities to enhance our energy efficiency as we strive for a cleaner, greener production process.

Minimising the Chemical Impact

When it comes to treating our sheepskins at Fibre by Auskin, we prioritise preserving the inherent beauty and qualities of the raw materials and balancing that with our environmental impact. That's why we've implemented efficient practices to minimise the use of chemicals throughout the tanning process. Here's a closer look at what we do:

· New enzyme technology is used to reduce the use of detergents and surfactants by 30%.

· Chemical recycling through our revolutionary Auto Tan technology enables an annual reduction of 15% in our use of chemicals.

· 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.

· Salt is recovered from the curing process and recycled into the tanning process, resulting in a 95% reduction in salt purchased.

· The production process used for our core product range is completely chrome free. Where customers require high levels of durability or robustness, chrome may be called for, however our philosophy is to eliminate the use of chrome whenever possible.

· Our dedicated team continuously explores ways to enhance the efficiency of our tanning process and finding sustainable alternatives when possible. We adopt best practices that align with our values of environmental responsibility.

· By reducing the use of chemicals, we not only safeguard the natural qualities of our sheepskins but also contribute to a healthier and more sustainable production approach. We believe that every step counts in our journey towards creating products that are not only beautiful but also environmentally conscious.

We're passionate about delivering sheepskins that reflect the true essence of nature. Through our dedication to efficient processes and responsible chemical usage, we're able to offer products that combine quality, sustainability, and the inherent beauty of the raw materials. It's a commitment that we hold dear as we strive to provide you with sheepskins that you can feel good about buying.

Lightening our Footprint: Innovations in Emissions Reduction

We have made great strides in reducing emissions. We're proud to say that we've achieved a significant reduction in water usage, which has been a major breakthrough for us.

To heat up to 2,000,000 litres (approximately 530,000 gallons) of water per week, we harness the power of solar energy. This not only helps us conserve resources but also ensures that our operations are more sustainable. Additionally, we take great care to recycle waste materials whenever possible. If they can't be recycled, we find alternative uses for them or simply reuse them within our processes.

In our efforts to minimise our carbon footprint, we've made a conscious choice to ship raw materials and products by sea instead of air-freighting them. By doing so, we significantly reduce the amount of CO2 emissions associated with transportation. To put it into perspective, air-freighting 1,000 kilograms of goods on average emits 500 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, whereas shipping them by sea on a modern container vessel emits only 15 grams per kilometre.

When it comes to our road and trucking operations, we’re all about efficiency. We strive to ensure that every kilometre of travel serves a purpose by optimising our cartage and scheduling systems. This means no empty trucks, and processes that efficiently transport raw materials or finished products to the ports for shipping.

Here are some fast facts about our environmental practices:

· All of the water we treat undergoes secondary treatment at our local city water treatment facility, guaranteeing that there is no direct discharge to the environment.

· We've replaced our coal boiler with a more environmentally friendly natural gas system, further reducing our carbon emissions.

· A significant investment has been made in several mechanical scrubbers in our tanning process to remove unwanted VOC contaminants from the air. This change has removed odours that are produced in a tannery environment.

By incorporating these measures into our operations, we're able to significantly decrease our CO2 emissions and make a positive impact on the environment.

Eco-Efficiency: Recycling in Our Process

At Fibre by Auskin, we understand the importance of recycling in our production processes and have implemented systems to ensure we are doing our part.

We harness the heat from our drying units to generate hot water, while the resulting cool air is utilised to keep our hardworking employees comfortable in the drying rooms.

In our production process, we prioritise recycling and reusing materials whenever possible. Our water treatment facility allows us to recycle 70% of the water we use, reducing waste. We've also made great progress by recovering salt from the curing process, leading to a 95% reduction in salt purchases.

To ensure eco-friendly packaging, filling, and labelling, we exclusively source materials from manufacturers who use 100% recycled materials.

Here are some facts about our recycling practices:

· Bio waste is sold for conversion into fertiliser or biofuel, contributing to a more sustainable future.

· Grease recovered from our dry-clean plant is sold as biofuel.

· Waste materials with chemical content undergo strict compliance measures, with government-supervised waste transfer approval processes.

· Waste materials extracted from our grey-water treatment process are disposed of at municipal plants, complying with government regulations.

· We sell or recycle wooden pallets, empty chemical drums and containers, plastic, and cardboard waste.

· Wool clippings are sold to the industrial or textile industry, while trimmings from raw skins are recovered for wool production. Any excess trimmings from finished skins are further processed through resale or repurposed.

· Whenever 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 best utilise our resources.

By implementing these initiatives, we're committed to minimising waste and promoting a greener future.

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