Public Relations Methods Used to Improve the Image of The Local Product (A Field Study of Public Relations Activities in The State Company for Textile and Leather Industries)

It is no secret to anyone the important role of national industries and the need to improve their image among the Iraqi citizen because of his role in supporting the local economy, so this research came to address the public relations methods used to improve the image of the local product (a field study of public relations activities in the General Company for the Textile and Leather Industry), Where the first topic of the research dealt with the methodological framework represented by presenting the research problem and its importance, defining its objectives and the scientific method followed in it, reviewing the research tools with defining concepts and terminology, while the second topic dealt with the theoretical framework and dealt with it The researcher pointed to the importance of public relations in the General Company for the Textile and Leather Industry. As for the third topic, it dealt with the field study, through which the researcher reached several scientific results, perhaps the most prominent of which is that most of the workers in the media department are experienced, in addition to the fact that exhibitions and the social networking site Facebook are among the most prominent means Contact used by the company

A Review on Utilization Routes of the Leather Industry Biomass

The use of biomass to produce bioenergy and biomaterials is considered a sustainable alternative to depleting fossil fuel resources. The world tanneries consume 8–9 MT of skin and hide every year producing 1.4 MT of solid waste. Most of the solid biomass generated from tanneries is disposed of as waste in the environment using either landfilling or thermal incineration. Disposal of this waste into the environment affects the ecosystem, causing bad odor (air pollution) and has an antagonistic impact on the environment. Due to this, European Union legislation bans the landfilling of biomass. This study aims to comprehensively review the possible valorization routes of leather processing industry biomass into high-value biomaterials. Leather biomass (trimmings, shaving, splitting, and buffing dust) mainly contain 30%–35% collagen protein, which is produced by acid or alkali hydrolysis. The biopolymers obtained from leather industry biomass can be utilized in the production of several high-value materials. In addition, leather processing industry biomass also contains fat, which can be converted into a bio-surfactant, and other useful biomaterials. Keratin protein can also be extracted from the hair waste of hides and skins. The increased demand for biomaterials makes the using of leather industry biomass very attractive. From this study, it can be concluded that the conversions of leather processing industry waste to valuable biomaterial can protect the environment, generate additional income for leather industries, and pave way for sustainable and renewable biomaterials production.

Composite Polymers from Leather Waste to Produce Smart Fertilizers

The leather industry is facing important environmental issues related to waste disposal. The waste generated during the tanning process is an important resource of protein (mainly collagen) which can be extracted and reused in different applications (e.g., medical, agricultural, leather industry). On the other side, the utilization of chemical fertilizers must be decreased because of the negative effects associated to an extensive use of conventional chemical fertilizers. This review presents current research trends, challenges and future perspectives with respect to the use of hide waste to produce composite polymers that are further transformed in smart fertilizers. Hide waste contains mostly protein (collagen that is a natural polymer), that is extracted to be used in the cross-linking with water soluble copolymers to obtain the hydrogels which are further valorised as smart fertilizers. Smart fertilizers are a new class of fertilizers which allow the controlled release of the nutrients in synchronization with the plant’s demands. Characteristics of hide and leather wastes are pointed out. The fabrication methods of smart fertilizers and the mechanisms for the nutrients release are extensively discussed. This novel method is in agreement with the circular economy concepts and solves, on one side, the problem of hide waste disposal, and on the other side produces smart fertilizers that can successfully replace conventional chemical fertilizers.

Analysing drivers of efficiency in the leather industry: a two-stage double bootstrap DEA approach

PurposeThe Indian leather industry contributes to economic growth at a significant environmental cost. Due to the rising global demand for sustainable leather products, promoting efficient input utilisation has become vital. This study measures input efficiency and its determinants for leather industry in order for it to improve its future performance.Design/methodology/approachIn the first stage, bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach is used for measuring efficiency and analysing firms' differences based on their geographical location, organisational structures, urban-rural location and sub-industrial groups. A second stage regression examines efficiency determinants using size, age, skill and capital-labour intensity as the explanatory variables.FindingsEfficiency result shows a significant potential of minimising inputs by 47% provided the firms adopt best practices. West Bengal firms, urban located firms, individual and proprietorship owned firms and leather consumer goods firms are found to be relatively efficient to their counterparts. Size, skilled managerial staff and labour-intensive firms positively affect efficiency.Practical implicationsConstruction of well-connected roads for accessing urban retail markets and provision of reliable electricity would improve efficiency of rural firms. Small-scale enterprises have a larger share in Indian leather industry; therefore, policy should focus on enhancing the firms' scale and investing in training facilities to skill employed labour for ensuring optimal use of inputs.Originality/valuePrevious studies on the leather industry have used the conventional DEA efficiency measurement approach. This study uses DEA bootstrapping model for robust efficiency estimates and provides consistent inferences about the determinants.

Analysis of Process Safety and Occupational Health in Leather Process Industry: A Holistic Approach

Process Safety and Occupational health (PSOH) aspects in process industries are essential and need more consideration along with development in manufacturing and processing. In this regard, PSOH aspects are essential for the leather industry in order to prevent health hazards associated with it and improve upon adequate measures. Better safeguards and practices are necessary in PSOH for the benefit of not only for people working in the industry but for the environment at large. The situation is significant wherever hazardous chemicals or chemicals which could lead to compromise on safety in the workplace are involved. The degree of toxicity or hazard and exposure limit associated for some of them, inside factory premises are of major concern. In addition to the chemicals, other aspects such as dusts, noise levels, lighting, ergonomics, ventilation, personal safety and hygiene are worth considering. As mentioned above, the present paper analyzes various aspects of PSOH in leather process industries as a holistic approach.

Resource-saving processing of technological solutions and wastewater by electrochemical method (methods overview)

The paper summarizes the data on the wastewater formation from a number of plants of chemical, engineering, energy and leather industries and its processing in electrolyzers of various designs to obtain the substances that can be used in various production processes. In the ethylenediamine production, wastewater occurs at the stages of amines rectification and of ethylenediamine dihydrochloride neutralization. Recycling of effluents generated during the amine rectification in a two-chamber electrolysis cell allows the ethylenediamine and ammonia to be returned to the production process. The processing of ethylenediamine dihydrochloride solution in the membrane electrolyzers saves alkali for the neutralization process. Electrochemical processing of distilled liquid in soda production makes possible to obtain calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid or chlorine, which can be used in various industrial processes. Wastewater generated during the demineralized water production contains a significant amounts of sodium sulfates and chlorides. The processing of these effluents in a membrane electrolyzer yields sulfuric acid and alkali, which are suitable for the regeneration of ion-exchange filters. After processing in an electrodialysis apparatus the wastewater generated during the chromium and nickel coatings, is concentrated to values that allow them to be used to prepare an electrolyte adjustment. The leather industry effluents contains an amount of trivalent chromium and sulphides. Electrochemical processing of these effluents leads to almost complete extraction of chromium and sulfides.

Overview of the Leather Industry and Pollution Impact

The growing awareness of the human and environmental vulnerability, to the pollution resulting from industrial activity, highlights the urgent need for control and mitigate the degradation of the world as we know it. The leather industry, considered as one of the industries with a significant environmental impact, applies several chemicals, some of them considered as hazardous chemicals, such as chromium, in leather production. The restricted EU environmental regulations have driven the search for a process that ensures regulatory compliance and a final product that fulfills society’s requirements. The present review describes alternative options, applied in the leather tanning process in the last five years, to overcome some of the industry barriers, without compromising the final characteristics of leather.

Entrepreneurial Orientation, Innovation and Performance of Value-system Actors

The purpose of this study was to explore entrepreneurial orientation as a cognitive construct attributable to individuals and its relationship with innovation and performance from an industry ecosystem perspective. The study adopted a mixed design approach involving exploration of the factors and a diagnosis of their hypothesized relationships. A mixed sampling of members of a leather industry association and the linked industry institutions was carried out with a 76% response rate achieved. Quantitative data was collected from key decision-makers as informants of firms in Kenya’s leather industry using a questionnaire for guided interviews. The Delphi Technique and a pilot study (Cronbach’s Alpha 0.700 – 0.772) were used to establish instrument reliability. Factor analysis was performed on the study variables using Principal Component Analysis before inferential analysis. Entrepreneurial orientation showed validity as a second-order latent construct comprising three cognitive dimensions, namely vision for growth, opportunity recognition and calculated risk-taking. Entrepreneurial orientation and its antecedents were established as determinants of performance of value-system actors in an industry (R2=0.422, F=13.417, p=0.000). It further showed that this relationship is partially mediated by innovation by the firms (Sobel test Z-value = 3.30449610, p=0.00095147). The study recommends extension of this research to other industries.

Recycling of buffing dust tanneries waste to prepare structural thermal insulation panels

Thermal insulation panels were prepared by mixing the buffing dust obtained from tanneries waste with the polystyrene. The ratio in weight percentage of buffing dust, polystyrene and blowing agent was 20:77:3 respectively in these panels. The samples were prepared in co-twine extruder at 210 oC. Different physico-chemical properties were investigated for these samples that are required to analyze the usability of a material for construction. The composite panels showed better thermal insulation characteristics than the simple polystyrene boards. This study demonstrated that prepared composite panels have good thermal conductivity (0.029 W/m-K at 27 oC), density (300 Kg/m3), compression strength (6.25 ton) and water absorption (7.5%) without degradation of mechanical properties. Thermogravimetric analysis depicted that composite panels were thermally stable from 200 oC to 412 oC. FTIR analysis showed that composite has carbonyl and free amino functional groups. The SEM study explained that voids were created in the composite and homogeneousity was decreased after the addition of buffing dust. The composite had 62% of carbon and 0.2% of chromium as determined by EDX analysis. The results suggested that the prepared composite panels can be used as thermal insulation boards in building sector which will help in the recycling of waste produced by leather industry and consequently a reduction in environmental pollution.