This document summarizes a tweetchat discussion about the greenLIFE project, which aims to make the leather industry more environmentally friendly. The project has 5 research lines, including developing new liming and tanning processes, recovering and reusing byproducts, assessing environmental impacts, and monitoring results. It brings together partners across the leather supply chain and involves companies, public institutions, and researchers working cooperatively. The project seeks to establish a new institution called the "Leather District" to continue research, share innovations, and make the region a leader in sustainable leather technologies internationally after the initial project ends.

1. 15 Dicembre 2015
Istituto Conciario G.Galilei Arzignano
Tweetchat #greenleather2016
Guido Zilli, Dani: Da greenLIFE a #greenleather2016
Mariano Mecenero, Dani: Portiamo su scala industriale una nuova tecnica di depilazione ossidativa
Giorgio Pozza, Gruppo Mastrotto: Sottoprodotti conciari ad alto valore aggiunto per impieghi in
tecnologie biocompatibili e biosostenibili
Marco Colombina, Ikem: Nuovo conciante organico da fonti rinnovabili
Franco Cavazza, Ilsa: Processi di recupero per la produzione di fertilizzanti a base di proteine idrolizzate
derivanti da sottoprodotti delle fasi di calcinaio e concia chromium-free
Daniele Refosco, Acque del Chiampo: Concerie a ciclo completo: l’analisi LCA da qui al futuro.

2. GOALS
• 20% reduction in water consumption in the beamhouse stage
• 20% decrease in chemicals used in the beamhouse stage
• 20% reduction in solid waste
• 15% recovery and re-use of by-products with industrial value
• a new knowledge hub to share ideas and technologies
TITLE Green Leather Industry For the Environment (greenLIFE)
TIMELINE 36 month (01/06/2014 – 31/05/2017)
BUDGET Budget: 2.260.000 € / European Union grant: 1.120.000 €

3. Development of a new liming processes
Research line 1
• Liming process with recovery and re-use of liming baths
• Oxidative liming process
• Enzymatic liming process
Development of a new tanning process
Research line 2
• Studying of a new organic-based tannery product
• Testing to experimental and semi-industrial scale of the new organic-based product
Recovery and re-use of tannery and liming process by-products
Research line 3
• Collection of process by-products
• Treatment or by products and experimentation of a new re-use technology
Research activities / 1

4. Water treatment system and new technology: potential impact assessment
Research line 4
• Current water treatment district system
• Liming baths and characterisation of processing by-products
• Assessment of the new technology and potential impact on the water treatment Tannery District system
Monitoring of environmental and social impact
Research line 5
• Environmental impact: data collection, analysis and perspective
• Socio-economic impact: data collection, analysis and perspective
Research activities / 2

5. Some perspective from which to see this project
Partnership structure
• A “supply chain” approach (beyond company gates), with strong territorial references
• Involvement of partners with different institutional functions
• Cooperation between competing companies
Environment as a basic topic for research “as collective activity" (competitive research vs cooperative research)
Importance of communication within a research project
• Learning a multi-stakeholder perspective (Public Administrations at multiple territorial levels, educational
institutions and research, customers, suppliers, ...)
• Development of unusual communication channels: website ( www.greenlifeproject.eu ), social networks (twitter,
linkedin, slideshare, ..) and improvement in their use
Potential for collective learning
• New management tools for planning and assessing (Life Cycle Assessment on district level, activities indicators, ...)
• Management of complex projects

6. And after?
A new institution: the "Leather District ," potentially able to:
• collect and address technological needs from the territory and towards the territory, in the medium / long term
• disseminate technological and organizational innovations, including also vocational training.
• allow Arzignano to become a reference area within recognized international R&D networks
Ability to lead to system the "Laboratory nature“ of Greenlife regarding:
• research and development
• dissemination of research results and innovations
• partnerships establishment, often at international level
• strengthening of regional networks and the creation of a system of international relations
Environment may continue to be a basic topic for collective research

7. So…
Thank you for your attention …
and have an interesting seminar