At Conceria Puccini, leather is not just a material: it is culture, craftsmanship, and the future.
Our research transforms waste and residues into new opportunities, experiments with more sustainable processes, and develops technologies that respect the environment, without ever betraying the Tuscan tradition.

PROBIOS – Production of Bio-Stimulant Protein Hydrolysates through Chemical Splitting Processes and the Transformation of Leather Waste from Refuse to Resource

The PROBIOS project aims to develop a new technological process for the treatment of leather waste, which is currently sent to landfills or waste-to-energy plants, in order to recover potentially reusable substances (proteins, fat, and tanning agents) for which there is already strong market demand. Once transformed, these substances could be reintroduced into the tanning process or redirected to other market segments.

The goal is to share with the business world the “closing of production cycles” by both reducing waste generation and identifying suitable facilities capable of replacing landfill disposal.

The project involves the following partners:

• Italprogetti SPA
• Conceria Puccini Attilio SRL
• Conceria UPIMAR SRL
• University of Siena – Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy
• TE.CO. SCRL

Specifically, the PROBIOS project aims to:

1. Select and characterize finished leather waste.
2. Develop and implement a process to transform the waste, enhancing the value of potentially recoverable substances.
3. Build an automated prototype plant aligned with “Industry 4.0” protocols (CNC-PLC controls, IT interconnection, remote management) for waste treatment.
4. Drastically reduce disposal to landfills and waste-to-energy plants.

INCANTO – Tannery Innovation Through New Types of Polyol-Based Tanning Agents

The project aims to innovate the tanning sector through the development and implementation of a new organic tanning agent, obtained from waste glycerol derived from biodiesel production.
This initiative falls within the field of technologies for life, the environment, and energy, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the tanning process and increase its sustainability.

To support the project, enabling technologies such as advanced catalysis and innovative purification systems are employed to optimize the synthesis of the tanning agent and ensure its quality and stability. The active involvement of project partners is crucial in all phases, from research and development to industrial validation, to ensure the integration of innovations into the production process and their commercial scalability.

The activities of Operational Objective 1 (OO1) represent the technical-scientific foundation of the entire project. This initial phase will focus on:

• Analysis and characterization of polyol-based raw materials used in the tanning process;
• Optimization of operational conditions for laboratory-scale tanning trials, aimed at defining parameters that maximize the performance of the finished product;
• Characterization of exhausted tanning baths to evaluate their environmental impact, with particular attention to potential recovery and recycling strategies;
• Analysis of solid post-tanning waste (e.g., trimmings), with the goal of identifying solutions for sustainable reuse based on their chemical-physical characteristics.

The activities of Operational Objective 2 (OO2) are aimed at verifying the scalability of the process, ensuring that the product obtained on an industrial scale maintains the performance observed at the laboratory level.
This phase will include:

• Comparative tests between leather tanned with the new agent and leather obtained with traditional methods;
• Chemical, physical, and mechanical analyses on leather samples;
• A comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact associated with the use of the new tanning technology.