In episode 17 of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski we hear from Steve Layton from Layton Corporation. The chat was recorded at last Friday’s Good Design Awards.
EmTech, a division of Layton’s company, was a Gold Winner at the awards for its Enviro Hide product, which is made from recycled leather and has a look and feel of new split leather.
Layton tells us about developing the product, which is currently produced in China, launching it here following the award, and the plans to make Enviro Hide in Australia.
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Episode guide
1:20 – Introduction/company history.
2:50 -- Moving away from "fast furniture" and a race to the bottom on price.
4:00 -- Enviro Hide, landfill and leather.
6:50 -- development challenges.
9:18 -- Don't call it bonded leather.
10:40 -- A big supply of raw material from discarded furniture as well as offcuts at China's tanneries.
12:18 -- 70 per cent can be reclaimed, but that's the limit.
13 -- Aiming to release Enviro Suede, the next product, in the second quarter of 2023.
14:04 -- Customers so far. Pushing harder with promotion locally following this award.
15:56 -- The opportunity to bring production to Australia.
17:50 -- The opportunity to licence the process.
Relevant links
Emtech's website
https://www.environmentalmaterialtechnology.com/
"Australian science and ingenuity transforms leather industry" on ABC's Landline
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/programs/landline/2022-02-12/hitting-its-straps:-australian-science-and/13752334
Article on the Australian Furniture Association's website about Enviro Hide
https://australianfurniture.org.au/a-greener-new-lease-of-life-for-leather-furniture/
Listing on Good Design Australia's awards page
https://good-design.org/projects/enviro-hide-by-emtech/
