Leather for automotive and upholstery

Environmental product declaration
Leather for
automotive
and upholstery
Vicenza Tannery
District
Project financed and coordinated by the
Province of Vicenza
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
International EPD® operated by The International EPD Consortium (IEC)
CPC code: 2912 – Geographical application area: Europe, South America, Asia - Leather for automotive
and interior design.
Reference PCR: Product Category Rules – Finished Bovine Leather – Version 1.0_dated 2011-09-28
VALIDATED PRODUCT ENVIRONMENTal DECLARATION – REGISTRATION NUMBER: ..
Approval date: 08/10/2013 - Review: 1
[Environmental Product Declaration]
INDEX
1
COMPANY INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 2
2
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................... 4
3
LCA STUDY ............................................................................................................ 5
3.1
Functional Unit ....................................................................................................... 5
3.2
The Boundaries of the System Analyzed ................................................................ 5
3.3
Use of Resources..................................................................................................... 6
3.4
Potential Environmental Impact ............................................................................. 7
3.5
Other Indicators ...................................................................................................... 7
3.6
Additional Information ........................................................................................... 8
3.7
EPD Comparisons within this Product Category ..................................................... 9
4
COMPANY AND CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY INFORMATION..................................... 9
4.1
Company Contacts .................................................................................................. 9
4.2
Audit Process .......................................................................................................... 9
4.3
EPD Validity ............................................................................................................. 9
4.4
Expiration Date ....................................................................................................... 9
5
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 10
6
GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................... 10
1
COMPANY INFORMATION
Company Name: RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A.
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP is a major Italian contributor to the leather tanning industry. The group’s
headquarters are in Trissino (VI), an area that boasts a long tradition in tanning, and that along with
the neighboring city of Arzignano make up the main leather processing pole in Italy and in Europe.
Founded in 1998 following the merger of six companies, RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. is at the
core of the group, concentrating all the key functions and services for the group.
With a production system and sales organization divided into divisions (Calbe-Brusarosco, Basmar,
Galassia, Pomari, Area Fashion and Area Design) and with more than 500 employees, today RINO
MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. produces more than 10 million square meters of finished leather per year,
with a turnover of more than EUR 200 million.
Production site(s) included within the boundaries of the system:
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP SPA, Calbe-Brusarosco division, located in via Quinta Strada, 55 36071
Arzignano (VI)
Established in 1955 as Gruppo Conciario Calbe S.p.A. by a number of tanning industrialists, the
company became part of the RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. in 1987.
It is located in the Industrial Area of Arzignano (VI), in the heart of the Venetian tanning area,
equipped with cutting-edge facilities and lines. The company is managed with the objective of
maximizing its potential, thanks to the modern lines that make it highly flexible in the continuous
diversification required to adapt to the continuous evolution of the market and the highly assorted
demands. The plant processes purchased raw cowhide and wet-blue leather.
Leather tanning has a complex process cycle that can be divided into three main stages that lead to
the production of two basic intermediate products for processing (wet-blue and crust) and then to
the finished product (finished leather). The descriptions of the processes performed at the
production site are summarized on the flowchart shown below.
The tannery holds certifications for the following international standards: ISO 9001:2008, ISO TS
16949:2008, and ISO 14001:2004, as well as the FriendlyStyle registered brand.
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
2
Since 2009, the Calbe-Brusarosco division has teamed traditional chrome tanning technology (wetblue leather), a portion of which is obtained from the waste recovery line located in another division
of the group, with chrome-free hides (wet-white leather). However, this study regards only the
chrome-tanned hides (wet-blue leather).
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
3
2
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The product described in this declaration is “finished bovine leather”, understood to be the finished
product of the tanning process, ready to become a semi-finished material supplied for further
conversion in numerous manufacturing processes. The leather can be used as a semi-finished
product in a number of industries, including furniture, clothing, shoes, etc. As applications for
“finished bovine leather” vary significantly in the products provided to the final customer, no
functional specification has been defined for the product.
This declaration is based on the average production of “finished bovine leather” in the tannery
during period of reference (2012) and therefore the results are not applicable to a single specific
category of leather manufactured.
Raw hide can be considered a waste product from the butchering process, and the processes
undergone in the tannery can be considered as waste recovery. Following a conservative approach,
which is required by the PCR supporting this declaration, raw hide is considered a by-product of
cattle farming, and therefore the environmental impact related to this stage is considered.
Material and chemical substances contained in finished bovine leather (1 m2):

Dermal tissue
75 %

Water
15 %

Chemicals*
10 %
*Trivalent chrome, synthetic tannin, lubricants, dyes, pigments, and inorganic salts.
Chemical substances allowed in finished bovine leather according to current regulations:
Substance
Unit of Measure
Total
Legal Limits
Content of Chemical Substances in the Leather
Hexavalent chrome
ppm
Absent
< 3A
Formaldehyde
ppm
<5
< 75B
Pentachlorophenol
ppm
< 5*
< 5C
Azo dyes
ppm
Absent
< 30D
* Detection limit
A
Germany, Eighteenth Amendment to the LBGV, August 3, 2010
B
Japanese Law 112 for the Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances
C
Regulation 1907/06/EC REACH
D
Regulation 1907/06/EC REACH
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
4
3
LCA STUDY
3.1
Functional Unit
The functional unit is the production of 1 m2 of “finished bovine leather”, measured according to the
ISO 11646 standard.
The product is classified according to the CPC (Central Product Classification) as “Other leather, of
bovine or equine animals, without hair on” - CPC 2912.
3.2
The Boundaries of the System Analyzed
The figure below illustrates the boundaries of the system:
The location of production involves the Calbe-Brusarosco division in via Quinta Strada, 55 in
Arzignano (VI).
The three upstream, core and downstream modules must be recorded separately in terms of the use
of resources, potential environmental impact, and other indicators, such as waste.
To facilitate interpretation, the data is shown in the tables below.
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
5
3.3
Use of Resources
The resource consumption is shown in the table per functional unit and it is divided between the
upstream, core and downstream modules.
Finished Bovine Leather (1 m2)
Environmental Indicator
Units
Total
Upstream
Core
Downstream
kg
8,01
0,94
6,66
0,41
Gravel
kg
4,65
0,11
4,16
0,38
Sodium Chloride
kg
0,96
0,28
0,68
0,003
Limestone
kg
0,68
0,01
0,66
0,01
Phosphate
kg
0,46
0,46
0,00
0,00
Sulfur
kg
0,33
0,00
0,33
0,00
Other
kg
0,92
0,08
0,83
0,02
Energy
MJ
376,29
117,19
251,61
7,48
MJ
176,09
59,71
115,82
0,56
kg
2,71
0,98
1,60
0,13
MJ
127,42
48,33
73,29
5,81
kg
2,34
0,08
2,23
0,03
MJ
40,11
7,11
32,55
0,44
Uranium
MJ
32,46
1,84
29,95
0,67
Other
MJ
0,21
0,20
0,01
0,00
Raw Hide
kg
4,15
4,15
-
-
Renewable
Energy
MJ
21,58
0,38
21,06
0,14
resources
Biomass
MJ
6,93
0,03
6,89
0,02
Wind Generation,
Solar, Geothermal
MJ
0,50
0,01
0,49
0,01
Hydro
MJ
14,15
0,35
13,68
0,11
l
573,48
24,40
545,27
3,81
kWh
3,02
n.a.****
3,02
n.a.****
Materials
including:
Non-renewable
resources
including:
Natural Gas
Oil*
Carbon *
Other
including:
Water
consumption**
Electric Energy
Consumption
***
 Carbon and Oil are expressed both in terms of kg and in MJ
 Of which the internal water consumption for the production process is equal to 109.42 liters
 Only involves the internal energy consumption related to the production process
 Not applicable
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
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3.4
Potential Environmental Impact
The data below is relative to the potential environmental impact per functional unit (F.U.) divided
between the upstream, core, and downstream modules (the values indicated in the table are from
the LCA study).
Finished Bovine Leather (1 m2)
Impact Category
Upstream
Core
Downstream
Total Farm/Breeder/Butcher Production/Conversion Distribution
GREENHOUSE EFFECT GWP 100 (eq. kg CO2)
71,94
56,97
14,52
0,45
ACIDIFICATION (eq. g SO2) 573,62
459,04
111,42
3,16
3,96
1,94
0,06
18,06
13,70
0,72
432,90
23,38
0,68
OZONE LAYER REDUCTION
5,96
(eq. mg CFC-11)
PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
32,48
(eq. g C2H4)
EUTROPHICATION
456,96
(eq. g PO43-)
3.5
Other Indicators
The other relevant indicators per functional unit and divided between upstream, core and
downstream, are provided in the table below:
Environmental Indicator
Waste
Materials subject
to recycling
Hazardous
Units
g
Total
18,00
Upstream
n.a.*
Core
18,00
Downstream
n.a.*
Non-hazardous
g
536,15
n.a.*
536,15
n.a.*
-
g
1.501,41
Emissions
(airborne)
kg
23,27
9,13
13,71
0,44
kg
0,26
0,26
0,00
0,00
kg
0,21
0,16
0,05
0,00
kg
0,04
0,00
0,04
0,00
kg
0,10
0,01
0,09
0,00
kg
22,66
8,69
13,53
0,44
kg
4,95
3,24
1,69
0,02
kg
0,05
0,00
0,05
0,00
kg
0,41
0,03
0,38
0,00
kg
0,47
0,01
0,46
0,00
kg
4,01
3,20
0,80
0,01
Chrome III **
g
45,84
n.a.*
45,84
n.a.*
Formaldehyde**
g
31,16
n.a.*
31,16
n.a.*
including:
NH3
NOx
SOV
n.a.*
1.501,41
n.a.*
SOx
Other
Other
Emissions
(waterborne)
including:
Filtered COD
Chlorides
Sulfates
Other
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
7
* Not applicable
** Cited reference to consumption of chemical product in the process.
Other hazardous chemical substances used in the CORE
processes
Units
Total
Calcium Hydroxide
g
54,48
Formic acid
g
54,41
Sodium sulphide
g
52,23
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone
g
45,70
Acetic acid
g
40,54
Sulphuric acid
g
29,89
2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol
g
25,99
3.6
Additional Information
The weight average thickness calculated for the finished leather product was 1.16 mm. The
variability in the articles was highly limited as the thicknesses were between 0.9 and 1.4 mm; but, in
fact, almost all of the articles have a thickness from 1.1 and 1.2 mm.
In terms of the raw hides, 81,11% of the hides come from European countries's cattle farms which
are considered intensive farms, while the remaining 18,89% are from USA and New Zeland from
extensive cattle farming.
The average distance traveled by the finished leather, from the production division gates to the
average client platform, is equal to 6,460 km.
In terms of the electric energy, the data for the country mix for Italy was applied using the process:
“Electricity, medium voltage, production IT, at grid/IT U”, from Ecoinvent 2.2.
In terms of the cut-off criteria applied for the chemical products, please refer to the PCR.
Specifically, the active substance and average percentage is considered for:
1. Mixtures that do not contain hazardous substances with total mass consumption ≥ 1.5% of
the overall weight of the chemical products consumed during the year of reference.
2. Mixtures that contain one or more hazardous substances classified as hazardous to the
environment, mutagenic or carcinogenic, with total mass consumption ≥ 0.01% of the
overall weight of the chemical products consumed during the year of reference.
3. Mixtures that contain one or more hazardous substances classified as hazardous for all other
types of hazards not indicate in point 2) with total mass consumption ≥ 0.05% of the overall
weight of the chemical products consumed during the year of reference.
The mixtures excluded by these cut-off criteria are grouped together, summing the quantity of the
non-hazardous and hazardous substances with those for the two respective mixtures with greatest
consumption during the same step, as indicated in the PCR.
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
8
3.7
EPD Comparisons within this Product Category
Remember that the EPDs which belong to the same category but developed according to the
different programs might be not compared.
4
COMPANY AND CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY INFORMATION
4.1
Company Contacts
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and this EPD were performed by Cecilia Fochesato, Daniele Omati,
and Lino Chiarello in the Quality, Environment, and Safety Department at RINO MASTROTTO GROUP
S.p.A., in collaboration with the Giada Agency of the Province of Vicenza and Aequilibria di Pernigotti
Daniele.
The company contact information follows:
Cecilia Fochesato – Environmental Manager – E-mail: c.fochesato@rinomastrottogroup.com
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. via dell’Artigianato, 100 36070 Trissino (VI)
Tel. 0445 969696 – Fax 0445 969681 www.rinomastrottogroup.com
4.2
Audit Process
PCR Revision Performed by:
Independent audit of the declaration and
data according to ISO 14025:
Aequilibria di Pernigotti Daniele. E-mail address:
dpernigotti@aequilibria.com
SGS Italia S.p.A
Via G. Gozzi, 1/a - 20129 Milan
Tel: 02 73931 Fax: 02 70124630
www.it.sgs.com
This EPD and reference PCR are available on the Swedish Environmental Management Council
Internet site - www.environdec.com
4.3
EPD Validity
The EPD is valid for a period of 3 years.
4.4
Expiration Date
16/04/2015
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
9
5
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 LCA report for finished bovine leather – RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. Case Study - CalbeBrusarosco Division
 Product Category Rules - Finished Bovine Leather – Version 1.0_dated 2011-09-28
 Database: Ecoinvent 2.2; Buwal 250; LCA Food Industry data.
 Cradle-to-Gate Environmental Assessment of Enzyme Products Produced Industrially in Denmark
by Novozymes A/S; Per H. Nielsen et al.; Int J LCA 2006 (OnlineFirst): 7
 Environmental Report UNIC 2012
6
GLOSSARY
 Acidification: Lowering of the pH in the soil, in lakes, or in forests due to the introduction into
the atmospheric of acidic substances, with consequent damage to living organisms (ex. “acid
rain”).
 Greenhouse Effect (GWP 100): global heating effect on the atmosphere, calculated for the next
100 years due to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O), etc.
 Eutrophication: Reduction of oxygen present in waterbodies and necessary for the ecosystems
due to the excessive content of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous.
 Thinning of the ozone layer: Degradation of the stratospheric ozone layer which acts as a barrier
against ultraviolet solar radiation due to the action of highly reactive compounds which originate
as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) or chlorofluoromethanes (CFM). The substance used as a reference
for the ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) is trichlorofluoromethane, or CFC-11.
 Photochemical Smog Formation: Formation of ozone on the earth’s surface due to release to
the atmosphere of unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the presence of solar
radiation. This phenomenon is dangerous for living organisms, and it is often present in large
urban centers.
 Wet blue: Wet leather after chrome tanning (intermediate state of processing)
 Crust: Tanned, lubricated and dried leather, before finishing.
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A. – EPD®
10
RINO MASTROTTO GROUP S.p.A.
Via Dell’artigianato, 100
36070 Trissino (VI) - Italy
Tel: +39 0445 969696
Fax: +39 0445 969681
www.rinomastrottogroup.com