The Labyrinth
Our Labyrinth
This circle symbolises our commitment to forward thinking in business. Our dedication to corporate responsibility is tangible at the Blignaut plant through initiatives like renewable energy use and recycling. Our Pathfinder Programme also promotes secondary businesses like repair shops and small leather goods, encouraging customers to reuse their products rather than purchasing new ones made from materials that might otherwise be discarded.
While financial growth matters, prioritising resource responsibility and sustainability is paramount. Critical thinking guides our decisions for both financial success and environmental impact.
Sustainable Cities & Communities
We are proud of our association with our local municipality, Drakenstein Fair Trade City, which aims to unite business and residents in boosting environmental responsibility. Through a shared commitment and individual choices, the campaign seeks to transform the lives of the community. Fairtrade benefits the community by improving working conditions, promoting local businesses, providing access to markets, fostering healthier communities, developing business skills, promoting environmental respect, and emphasizing the local economy's impact.
Responsible Consumption & Production
Our commitment to water conservation is backed by strategic initiatives to reduce dependence on municipal water sources. We have strategically placed tanks capable of collecting an impressive 10,000 litres of both borehole water and rainwater runoff. This harvested water becomes a crucial ingredient in leather production, significantly reducing the burden on local water supplies. A specially designed drainage system on the plant floor ensures efficient water recycling throughout the factory, symbolising our dedication to preserving this invaluable resource.
Our dedication to water recycling is backed by our ability to showcase a remarkable 30% reduction in water usage since 2015. By minimising reliance on municipal water sources, we have ensured our operations lessen the impact on local watersheds and rivers, including the vital Bains Kloof and Du Toit Kloof passes which serve as lifebloods for many biodivestity in our region. This commitment translates into savings equivalent to 15 million cups of coffee worth of water annually—enough to fill 1.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Supply Chain Stories
Sustainable Innovation
We collaborate closely with our customers to help them achieve their ambitions of creating products that enhance brand reputation while minimising their impact on the planet. We have observed a synergy between conscious manufacturing and innovation. To this end, we have developed our Optimum Leather technology, which enhances the longevity of our products. This results in finished goods that are more durable and long-lasting, thus bolstering brand reputation and positioning our customers as market leaders. Our Optimum Leather technology provides clients with options such as water resistance, breathability, and flame retardancy, among others.
Our ESG Report
Our yearly Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report provides a concise overview of our initiatives, commitments, and innovation agenda, guiding us toward a more sustainable future.
Partnership for Responsible Manufacturing
In our process, ranging from chemicals to hides, we collaborate with like-minded, environmentally conscious companies. All our Wetblue suppliers hold LWG accreditation, while our chemical suppliers remain consistently updated with the latest REACH restricted substance list. Partnering with trusted suppliers ensures a 100% traceable supply chain, maintaining uncompromising standards and fostering progressive innovations in line with Leatherprint's mission to advocate for conscious manufacturing practices and minimise the environmental impact of our finished goods.
We prioritise full supply chain transparency, achieving 100% traceability and ensuring 0% deforestation by exclusively sourcing by-products from the food industry. Our Chemical Suppliers conduct continuous Life Cycle Analyses on their products to guarantee that their use in manufacturing does not adversely affect downstream elements of the supply chain.