Terracare Leather

Leather-making process / Source: Joseph Heinen

Anti-MicrobialBreathableEuropeFire-ResistantLeatherLow-CarbonOdour ResistantTerracare LeatherTextilesWater Repellent

WHAT WE SAY:

We wish that all leather was produced with as much care as Terracare leather.

Produced in Germany by the family-owned Josef Heinen tannery, it is an example of how responsible leather is a world away from cheap, dirty, polluting leather (not to mention synthetic substitutes). It is expensive for sure, but for that you get full traceability, an efficient production process that is highly monitored and regulated, and most importantly, a high-performance leather that will last you a lifetime.

Terracare Leather

WHAT IS TERRACARE LEATHER?

Terracare Leather is the brand of responsible high-performance Leather from Josef Heinen.
Produced and sourced exclusively in Germany, Terracare Leather offers full transparency and traceability of its raw materials, and claims minimal consumption of resources and high recycling rate during its manufacturing.
The company supplies a number of institutional clients in the workwear, rescue services, fire and safety, forestry, law enforcement, military, and special forces sectors, as well as consumer footwear brands.
Terracare Leather has a number of properties: it is water and dirt-repellent, flame-resistant, breathable, bacteria-free, odourless, comfortable, and durable, and is available in a range of leather thickness (1.3-3 millimetres), with a variety of grains and hydrophobic finishes, according to requirements.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Anti-Microbial
Breathable
Fire-Resistant
Low-Carbon
Odour Resistant
Water Repellent

INDUSTRY:

Textiles

AVAILABILITY:

Mass Market

DIVE DEEPER:

Leather is one of the most durable and renewable materials we have, but it has fallen out of favour with many consumers and designers. Cheap, poor quality leather with dubious environmental standards and poor worker welfare has flooded the market in recent decades.
German leather manufacturer Josef Heinan dates back to 1891 and its Terracare Leather label promises a fabric of the highest quality, aligned with top environmental standards.
Because the company sources its hides locally in Germany, it means that it is able to avoid the salting process (which helps prevent decomposition in longer supply chains), which helps it further reduce related emissions and water.
During the Terracare Leather production process, 97% of the by-products generated are recycled or reused as biogas, compost, small leather parts or gelatin.
Terracare Leather is made with in-house produced electricity, which is either bought from regenerative sources or with CO2 being offset by the company, resulting in emissions that are at least 30% lower than the industry average.
Terracare Leather reports using at least 40% less water in its production when compared to the industry average, with all water cleaned before being returned to the natural water cycle.
The company’s Terracare Leather uses non-toxic chromium III in its tanning, rather than the carcinogenic chromium VI used by many tanneries. For people suffering from allergies, it also offers Terracare Zero Chrome.
Josef Heinen claims it uses '100% clean' auxiliary materials, exclusively using REACH-certified (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) substances – publishing a complete list of the restricted substances used.
Partners can also opt for Terracare Zero CO2, which uses reforestation programmes to fully offset any carbon emissions in manufacturing the leather.
All animal hides are bought in Germany, where the leather is made, and a Terracare app and QR code on the product guarantees full transparency of origin. Terracare Leather is made of 95% German and 5% other European raw materials.
Terracare Leather has multiple certifications, including the Ökotex Leather Standard, Leather Working Group, Ecol Energy Controlled Leather and third-party CO2 Certificates.
Brand partners using Terracare Leather include shoe manufacturers Hanwag, Ricosta, Duckfeet, Mephisto and Meindl, and bag makers Bree and Salzan.

Terracare Leather during processing / Source: Joseph Heinen

Terracare Responsible Performance Leather / Source: Joseph Heinen

KEY FACTS:

40%

Terracare Leather uses at least 40% less water in its production, when compared to the industry average.

97%

Of the by-products generated are recycled or reused as biogas, compost, small leather parts or gelatin.

30%

Terracare Leather is made with in-house produced electricity, resulting in emissions that are at least 30% lower than the industry average.

Key Questions to Ask:

Could animal-free leather be an option?

While the argument that leather is a byproduct of the meat industry is a valid one today, no designer can ignore the fact that many consumers prefer to avoid animal-based products, even if that has led to much greenwashing. However, there are an increasing number of viable non-animal, non-plastic leather alternatives, such as Natural Fibre Welding’s Mirum, which is made from renewable plant sources that you could consider.

Could chrome-free tanned leather deliver the required performance?

While Josef Heinen produces chrome-free leather, this is typically used for shoe liners, as it is more suitable for skin contact for people with allergies, and the company states that vegetable tanned leather is not able produce leather with the required durability and performance. However, depending on your requirements, you could consider using chrome-free leather, such as that from Zeology.

How can you encourage consumers to extend the life of their leather products?

Leather’s critics will point towards the ‘hidden’ emissions and water use related to animal agriculture. However, the most important sustainability metric is always longevity – ‘high impact’ products can be more sustainable if they last a lifetime. Therefore it’s important to consider how you can design a product, or better yet an ecosystem, that supports the repair, resale and responsible recycling of your products.

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