The livestock and leather industries are closely intertwined, and their impact extends not only to the economy but also to the environment. This article takes a closer look at the current situation and challenges surrounding leather in the livestock industry. It also introduces initiatives aimed at a sustainable future.
The relationship between livestock farming and leather
The basic flow of leather production
Leather is a material made by tanning and processing animal hides. Leather is mainly used from livestock such as cows, pigs, and sheep . Leather production begins with raising livestock, and goes through a series of processes including leather collection, tanning, processing, and productization.
First, livestock are raised for meat. Not only is meat produced from livestock raised for meat, but leather is also an important by-product. Once the animal is slaughtered, the hide is stripped, washed, salted, and otherwise processed. The hide is then sent to a tannery for tanning, a process that protects the hide from decay and makes it flexible and durable . Various chemicals, including vegetable tannins, chromium, and aluminum, are used in the tanning process.
Once the tanning process is complete, the leather is then dyed, finished, and processed. The dyeing process adds color to the leather, and the finishing process adds shine and patterns to the surface of the leather. These processes result in a variety of different types of leather.
Finally, the processed leather is made into a variety of products such as shoes, bags, clothing, furniture, etc. Leather has been used for a variety of purposes since ancient times due to its excellent properties such as durability, flexibility, breathability, and waterproofness.

The impact of livestock farming on leather production
The livestock industry plays an important role in providing the livestock that form the basis of leather production. The scale of the livestock industry and the methods of rearing have a significant impact on the quality and quantity of leather produced.
For example, the quality of leather can vary greatly depending on the environment in which livestock are raised and the feed they receive.
It is said that livestock raised in a less stressful environment produce higher quality leather. The type and quality of feed also affects the strength and flexibility of the leather.
Furthermore, the size of the livestock industry directly affects the amount of leather produced. Areas with a large livestock industry tend to have a large supply of leather and more stable prices for leather products.
On the other hand, in areas where the livestock industry is declining, leather supplies are low and the prices of leather products may rise.
As such, livestock farming has a major impact on leather production, and the two are closely related.

The relationship between livestock farming and the economy
The livestock industry is an important industry that produces not only food products such as meat, dairy products, and eggs, but also by-products such as leather, fur, and bones. These by-products are used in a variety of industries and contribute to economic activity.
The leather industry uses hides, a by-product of livestock farming, to manufacture a variety of products. Leather products are used in a wide range of fields, including fashion, automobiles, and furniture, and have a significant economic impact.
The livestock industry also contributes greatly to job creation . A large labor force is required for various processes, such as raising livestock, slaughtering, leather processing, and product manufacturing. Employment in the livestock industry plays an important role in revitalizing the local economy .
In this way, the livestock industry contributes to economic activity in various ways, including food production, by-product production, and job creation.
The current state of Japan's leather industry
Trends in the domestic leather market
Japan's leather market has undergone major changes in recent years, with an increase in imported leather and a decrease in domestic production, which has been declining due to rising labor costs and a lack of technological innovation .
On the other hand, imported leather is on the rise due to its lower price and improved quality. The domestic leather market can be divided into the luxury goods market and the general goods market. In the luxury goods market, products made with domestic leather and rare leather are popular. In the general goods market, products made with imported leather are mainstream.
In recent years, growing interest in environmental issues has led to an increase in demand for sustainable leather . Sustainable leather is leather that is produced with consideration for animal welfare and environmental impact . Sales of products made from sustainable leather are expanding in the domestic leather market.
Major leather-producing regions
The main leather-producing regions in Japan are Hyogo, Tochigi, Wakayama, etc. These regions have had a long history of thriving leather industries, and traditional techniques and know-how have been passed down through the generations.
Hyogo Prefecture is known as a manufacturing base for leather products. In particular, Himeji City is a thriving center for the production and sale of leather products, and is home to many leather product manufacturers. Tochigi Prefecture is a major producer of cowhide, producing leather suitable for the manufacture of high-quality leather products. Wakayama Prefecture is a major producer of pigskin, producing leather suitable for the manufacture of leather products such as gloves and wallets.
In recent years, these regions have been making innovative efforts to improve leather manufacturing techniques and develop new materials .
Technological innovation in Japan
The Japanese leather industry is actively pursuing technological innovation while preserving traditional techniques. In recent years, various technological innovations have been underway, including improvements in leather dyeing and processing techniques and the development of new materials.
In leather dyeing technology, developments are being made in environmentally friendly dyes and dyeing techniques that make the most of the leather's texture, while in processing technology, techniques are being developed to improve the strength and durability of leather and to apply special treatments to the leather surface.
New materials are being developed that have a lower environmental impact, such as plant-based and renewable materials. These technological innovations are enabling the production of higher quality, more environmentally friendly leather products.

Environmental issues in the leather industry
Environmental impact
The leather industry has a variety of impacts on the environment, particularly during processes such as raising livestock, tanning leather, manufacturing products, and waste disposal.
Livestock raising poses problems such as water pollution caused by livestock excrement and greenhouse gas emissions. Leather tanning poses problems such as water and air pollution caused by the use of chemicals. Product manufacturing poses problems such as energy consumption and waste generation. Waste disposal poses problems such as environmental pollution caused by the disposal of leather products.
The leather industry is taking various steps to reduce its environmental impact, such as improving livestock breeding methods, using eco-friendly tanning agents, saving energy, and promoting recycling.
Issues from an animal welfare perspective
The leather industry is also viewed as problematic from the perspective of animal welfare. Livestock are raised for meat and leather, but they are often confined to small spaces and raised in harsh conditions.
From the perspective of animal welfare, there is a need to improve the living conditions of livestock and reduce stress on animals. It is also important to develop methods for manufacturing leather products that do not cause pain to animals.
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for leather products that are considerate of animal welfare. For such leather products, the living conditions and slaughter methods of the animals are strictly controlled.
Waste disposal challenges
Leather products are highly durable and can be used for a long time, but discarded leather products can pollute soil and water.
There are several methods for disposing of leather waste, including incineration, landfilling, and recycling. Incineration can produce harmful substances such as dioxins. Landfilling has issues such as occupying land and contaminating groundwater. Recycling is a disposal method with a low environmental impact, but it has technical and cost challenges.
The leather industry is taking various measures to address waste disposal issues, such as developing recycling technologies and designing products to reduce waste.
Towards a sustainable future
Development of alternative materials
The leather industry is working to develop alternative materials, including plant-based, synthetic and renewable materials, to address environmental and animal welfare concerns.
Plant-based materials include pineapple and mushroom . These materials have a low environmental impact and are animal welfare-conscious. Synthetic materials include polyurethane and polyester . These materials are durable and waterproof .
Renewable materials include recycled materials and bioplastics , which can reduce the environmental impact.
The development of alternative materials is a key challenge for the future of the leather industry.
Sustainable production methods
The leather industry can reduce its environmental impact and improve animal welfare by adopting sustainable production practices, such as using environmentally friendly tanning agents, saving energy and promoting recycling.
Environmentally friendly tanning agents include vegetable tannins and chrome-free tanning agents. These tanning agents have a lower environmental impact than conventional tanning agents. Energy conservation efforts include streamlining manufacturing processes and introducing energy-saving equipment. Recycling promotion efforts include product design to reduce waste and the development of recycling technologies.
The adoption of sustainable production methods is essential to increasing the sustainability of the leather industry.
The future of livestock and leather industries
The future of the livestock and leather industries must aim for sustainable development while resolving environmental and animal welfare issues. To achieve this, it is essential to develop innovative technologies and introduce sustainable production methods.
In the livestock industry, it is necessary to improve the environment in which livestock are raised and to develop methods of raising animals that take animal welfare into consideration. It is also important to develop feed that has a low environmental impact and technology that makes effective use of livestock waste .
The leather industry is being called upon to develop alternative materials and adopt sustainable production methods . Changing consumer awareness is also important. Consumers need to change their mindset to choose leather products that are environmentally friendly and considerate of animal welfare.
summary
Through this article, we hope you have gained a deeper understanding of the current situation and challenges facing the livestock and leather industries. We hope that by adopting sustainable methods, we can build a better future.