ABOUT RICHARD HOFFMANS

• After brothers Franz and Josef Hoffmans built their first tannery in 1858, German Leather production company Richard Hoffmans was formally founded in 1899 and is now in its fifth generation of family ownership.
• Richard Hoffmans exclusively sources its raw materials in Europe and conducts all its wet end operations, drying and finishing exclusively in Germany.
• Around 80% of leather produced by Richard Hoffmans is used for handbags, with the remaining 20% used for shoe-uppers.
• Richard Hoffmans has developed a compostable leather, certified biodegradable ISO 20136 and compostable ISO 20200 (a plastic-based test commonly used for leather).
• In 2012, it introduced lot tracing down to the individual hide level via a unique laser number printed on each hide, which is connected to the ear tag of each animal.
• This collects data on where the animal was sourced from, its welfare, the farm’s sustainability profile (such as whether it was organic), data about the abattoir it was processed in and more.
• The company has invested in a cogeneration unit that generates enough electricity for self-sufficiency, with any leftover heat used for warm water production. A research and development centre was established in 2017 to further boost sustainable leather production.
• Richard Hoffmans reports that its leather is carbon neutral, although this is achieved by offsets purchased via its partner, Arktik; the company reports its carbon footprint as 2.7 kilograms per square metre for production (2.96 kilograms per square metre including pre and post-production).
• Richard Hoffmans has been rated Gold by the Leather Working Group and is also ECO₂L Energy Controlled Leather certified.
• Designer Anya Hindmarch has partnered with Richard Hoffmans to coat the Zeology-tanned leather from Nera Tanning in her Return to Nature collection.