Muirhead create the lowest carbon, high luxury leather

Muirhead has announced it now makes the lowest carbon leather in the world at only 1.1kg CO2e per hide. A natural and sustainable material, the brand is trusted by the likes of Mulberry, British Airways, Philips and Princess Yachts, along with many award-winning global design practices working in the built environment.

Muirhead’s journey to zero carbon impact leads the leather industry worldwide, detailed in Scottish Leather Group’s 2021 Sustainability Report. Muirhead are committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), ensuring that all sustainability data is clearly explained and independently verified as part of their rigorous Life Cycle Analysis.

Muirhead’s sustainability is driven by continuous innovation – the journey towards zero process waste to landfill is enabled by Muirhead’s patented circular manufacturing process, its on-site thermal energy plant and water ultrafiltration facility, and its unique take-back scheme that repurposes end-of-life leather as fuel to make new.

Muirhead’s complete control of the supply chain, from farm to finish, means they can guarantee animal welfare standards, manage energy and water use throughout the tanning and finishing process, and provide total traceability.

Hides are sourced within 400 miles from grass-fed beef and dairy farms which support sustainable agroforestry. Muirhead buys its raw hides within the UK and Ireland, whose farms rank among the highest on the World Animal Protection Index.

Naturally clean Scottish water is sourced from Muirhead’s own loch, and is recycled at their own ultrafiltration plant after the tanning process. 40% of water is recovered while the remainder is treated downstream and returned to the original watershed, minimising overall impact. The energy-efficient tanning facility saves 70% of energy and 35% of water per hide, using half the water of competitors’ processes and offers innovative tanning methods using sustainable 100% natural dyes.

Muirhead leather is dyed all the way through, minimising apparent wear and damage in use, and a vast range of colours, embosses, and finishes are available from stock – providing an in-house design and development service for bespoke leathers, including colour matching, custom embossing, digital printing and perforating.

This circular manufacturing process has led the company to becoming strategic partner to Mulberry as the iconic British fashion brand enters its 50th year. Muirhead’s take-back scheme that transforms end-of-life leather into fuel to power the production of new leather empowers Mulberry to fulfil their progressive Made to Last Manifesto.

‘To transform our business to a regenerative and circular business model, from field to wardrobe, we are delighted to be working with partners like Muirhead, who support our responsible business goals and help us fulfil our Made to Last Manifesto,’ commented Rob Billington, Supply Chain Director at Mulberry.