BY FIKADU BELAY
The leather industry is an important sector for Ethiopia’s economy, with exports of finished leather and leather goods increasing substantially over the past decade. However, the manufacturing of leather products comes with environmental consequences that can have significant impacts on human health, wildlife, and the ecosystem as a whole.
Environmental pollution has become one of the biggest concerns in the modern world. With increasing population, urbanization, and industrialization, human activities have significantly impacted the environment. Pollution, which refers to the presence of substances or energy that cause adverse effects, is a major contributor to environmental degradation.
The manufacturing, use, and disposal of the item are only a few of the factors that have an impact on the environment when it comes to leather items. During the production process, the leather is tanned and dyed using chemicals and waste products like formaldehyde and chromium. These substances may have negative effects on soil, water, and air quality and if not handled appropriately, on human health as well.
Ethiopia is home to several large rivers that provide a source of water for people and livestock, but the discharge from tanneries and the presence of toxic chemicals in the water are threatening the quality of the water. Chromium is a commonly known hazardous substance that is utilized in the tanning process and can be harmful to both aquatic life and people. Polluted water sources are primarily attributed to inadequate treatment facilities and bad waste management techniques.
Leather production also contributes to air pollution, which poses a severe threat to human health. The use of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, and ammonia in the processes of tanning, dying, and finishing contaminates the air that leading to respiratory problems and other long-term diseases. Over-reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas used to produce energy in the production process also releases greenhouse gases, leading to global warming, and climate change effects such as droughts and flooding.
Untreated waste product from tanneries that contains high quantities of organic pollutants, synthetic chemicals, and heavy metals is discharged into the environment, which has a severe impact on the soil’s quality and causes erosion, a decline in biodiversity, and soil infertility. Long-term effects on agricultural productivity causes a decrease in food production and means of livelihood.
According to Solomon Getu, Secretary General of Ethiopia’s Leather Industry Association, the issue of cluster organization is the main reason why the leather industry pollutes the environment nationwide. Leather production needs to be done in a single location. Because it produces a comfortable environment, waste products from the leather business can be utilized for activities such as soil fertilization, the fabrication of various chemicals, the manufacture of medicines, and other tasks employing solid waste from the leather, he added.
Supervisor at Batu Tannery, Kebede Tadese said that the environment used to be polluted by unnecessary waste from the leather industry, but now numerous operations are being done to clean it up. The level of chromium and sulphide is tested regularly in the primary and secondary filters, he said. In the same way that Batu Tannery does, Gelan Tannery Company works to protect the environment.
Solomon said that the tanning process used to have a greater environmental impact in the past, but it has recently improved as it has introduced a filtration system to prevent water pollution and enabling recycling of water. A factory is not permitted to produce, per the government’s established law, without secondary and tertiary filters. He noted that even if it produces without one, it is not allowed to market it. As a result, he explained that, every factory has installed a waste filter. Additionally, the tannery’s boiler, which formerly ran on oil and a furnace, has been converted to solar system operation, he added.
He said that a project known as Mojo Leather Industry Integrated Leather City for leather companies has been launched in the planning stage and will be put into operation in the future with the assistance of the World Bank and UNIDO. In order to avoid damage, leather items are frequently treated with preservatives, which might further contribute to environmental contamination. Additionally, the high demand for leather forces the clearing of land for livestock grazing and the expenditure of resources to grow and transport livestock for slaughter.
Solomon mentioned that it is possible to build a leather production factory without endangering the environment by using low-carbon technology tools and nature-based research. Additionally, by recycling waste goods from manufacturers, he said, it is feasible to boost production and open up employment opportunities for many young people.
Based on all of this, it is crucial to use sustainable and environmentally friendly production techniques to reduce the environmental impact of leather production. With an emphasis on waste reduction and the promotion of environmentally friendly production techniques, nations like Ethiopia have been making an effort to adopt sustainable production practices in the leather industry.
Furthermore, the production of leather goods in Ethiopia is critical to the economy, but it also poses environmental challenges, especially in terms of the quality of water, air, and soil. Sustainable production practices, waste management, effluent treatment, sustainable energy practices, environmental education, and awareness are crucial elements to mitigate the adverse effects of leather production on the environment.
To guarantee the proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste, the government should enforce tight rules for tanneries. In order to reduce or completely stop the release of harmful pollutants into the environment, tanneries should use cleaner production techniques. The promotion of environmental education and awareness campaigns by stakeholders is also important to raise public awareness of the harm that pollution does to the environment and to human health.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL 2023
