who we are
Our Primary Cause
Litehide was developed to improve the environmental impact of leather and support supply chains with cleaner, easier and more flexible processes. We believe that leather can be sustainable if worked in an ethical and resource conscious manner. As it is a natural byproduct that is upcycled from waste to a long lasting, high quality material.
Elimination of salt
Salt damages the ecosystem and creates environmental issues.
Reduce your CO2 impact
You can transport up to 4x more material in this stage than salted. This reduces your CO2 and can help you create carbon credits.
Save water
Saves up to 60% freshwater usage against traditional techniques.
Eco-friendly chemicals
We constantly improve our formula to make it as sustainable as possible. LiteHide is bio-based and made in Europe.
who we are
History of Litehide™
Leatherteq was incorporated in 2007 after the Inventor of the Litehide™ process, Mr Peter Holicza arrived in Hong Kong looking for investors who could help him bring the technology to the Industry. Mr Desmond Ko saw the potential of this technology and agreed to form Leatherteq BVI Limited to secure the technology and continue research. Seeking out like minded people to compliment the company Mr Adrian K S Li was brought on-board as the first investor and director. Other shareholders soon joined the company and brought further funding and expertise.
The following years saw the process tested and refined with the help of the BLC Leather technology centre in Northampton, UK and the technology patented and trademarked with the help of OYEN WIGGS GREEN & MUTALA LLP Of Vancouver, Canada.
Leatherteq BVI Limited now have a group of advocates, advisors and strategic partners on board and is ready to promote and sell the product Litehide™ as well as license the technology for major players in the meatpacking industry to process and sell Litehide™. We will also be working with Brands and Non-Governmental organizations to promote the use of this environmentally superior technology through the Litehide™ brand.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use Litehide?
• It’s a more sustainable leather. Provides an opportunity to market an environmental product.
• It gives a differentiating factor against industry peers.
• It gains better control over supply chain and shorten production cycle.
• It allows for greater transparency and traceability.
Will there be a tradeoff with quality?
No, Litehide does not impact the quality of the hide in anyway. Litehide provides like for like quality when from the same source.
In fact, as Litehide is shipped de-haired, it will allow an industry first of early grain verification, and hence a much more accurate pre-grading of the quality of hide before shipping.
Will it cost more?
No, it should cost less due to the cost savings achievable through lower transportation cost, no spoilage, reduced wastage.
The amount of savings depend on whether you buy leather made from Litehide, or Litehide directly. Also, every brand’s supply chain, leather requirements and cost structure is different.
What advantages are there over current practices?
• Salt use is eliminated from transportation meaning there is a much lower environmental impact and much lower effluent load.
• Litehide is non-perishable giving improved inventory management and hence supply chain management. Also eliminates the issue of spoilage.
• Litehide is stored in a untanned condition, hence allowing greater production flexibility with leather manufacturing as and when required.
How do we implement Litehide in our supply chain? We currently only buy salted hides/wet blue/finished leather?
Customers can simply requesting their current leather agents/tanners to adopt Litehide for manufacturing own leather orders.
Leatherteq will assist tanners to order sample Litehide pieces to your specifications, advise on rehydration and tanning.
Where do I buy Litehide from?
Leatherteq has authorized specific meatpackers/tanners under license to manufacture Litehide. We are able to provide most types of hides and thickness. Please contact us for more details.
Am I limited to making one type of leather from Litehide?
No, you are free to use any tannage. We have tanners in different continents making leather from Litehide using chrome, vegetable or chrome-free tannage.