LEATHER

The leather tanning process represents a traditional craftsmanship that humanity has practiced since ancient times for the production of high-quality everyday products. The reasons for its success are primarily twofold: 

on one hand, it allows for the reuse of waste from the food industry according to the principles of the circular economy; on the other hand, its extreme durability and the ability to improve its appearance over time allow for a significant savings of resources. 

Further confirming its position and perception, the technological advancements achieved in recent years in the production process allow for a considerable savings of resources invested in its treatment, especially water. 


Leather as a renewable material:

Leather, being a byproduct of the food industry, is the result of one of the oldest forms of recycling. Tanning transforms a material that cannot be used as food - and would be discarded as waste - into a product with a higher added value.

 If it were not so, the process of destroying animal skins would contribute significantly to greenhouse gas production. Therefore, the leather production process is a highly sustainable industrial activity from an environmental point of view. 

The companies that work with the leather we use, in addition to achieving significant results in the field of Carbon Neutrality (elimination of greenhouse gas emissions originating from the production chain), are equipped with the following certifications.


  • The ISO 14001:2015 certification refers to the international standard that provides organizations with a framework to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions based on the needs of the socio-economic context. It specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to improve its environmental performance with the goal of continuous improvement. 
  • The LWG certification. The Leather Working Group aims to develop and maintain a protocol that assesses environmental compliance and sustainability-related business practices, promoting improvements in the leather industry. 
  • The Biobased certification measures the renewable content of their products, obtaining a value ranging from 70% to 95%.
  • The Blauer Engel label certifies the ecological quality of leather. Blauer Engel certified products better protect the environment and people's health, offering concrete benefits such as limited water consumption in the production process, the need to obtain raw hides sustainably, careful use or disposal of resources, and the absence of harmful consequences for health and the environment due to their low emission content. 
  • The OEKO-TEX certification. The Leather Standard by OEKO-TEX is an independent and globally recognized certification system for leather and leather articles in all stages of their processing. Its purpose is to identify substances harmful to humans used in production processes: OEKO-TEX labeled products therefore guarantee the purchase of products that are safe for people's health and the environment.

     


    PAPER 

    All the paper used to package S O F I A bags is certified to be recyclable and made from materials that are recyclable, with FSC® certification attesting to its origin from forests and communities managed according to high environmental, social, and economic standards.

    The adhesives, tissue papers, fillers, tags, and business cards have been produced in Italian companies whose goal is to progressively reduce their Carbon Footprint and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. 

    Our manufacturing partners are committed to daily efforts to reduce the energy consumption of their facilities. They have not only built sustainable factories that ensure maximum energy savings but have also identified low-impact environmental production solutions. For example, they have installed photovoltaic panels on the roofs of their facilities with a capacity of 130 Kwh that power part of their production. The remainder of their energy supply comes exclusively from sustainable sources, based on 100% renewable and traceable supply, certified by Guarantees of Origin (GO) and supplied by Engie Italia.

     


    TEXTILES

    The dust bags that will protect your bag are a true example of craftsmanship, as they have been entirely handcrafted, with attention to detail from cutting to finishing. 

    The fabric used for these dust bags comes from warehouses and archives of textile companies in northern Italy, recovered before being destined for disposal. 

    This approach not only adds a touch of authenticity and uniqueness to the dust bags but also helps reduce waste and valorizes high-quality materials.

    The linings of our bags are made from recycled and stain-resistant treated cotton. 

    The company that produces this type of cotton uses both pre-consumer and post-consumer sources. 

    The pre-consumer source includes leftovers generated from yarns and textile by-products discarded during the production of clothing and other textile items, while the post-consumer source includes used clothing, various fabrics, mattresses, pillows, carpets, and automotive components, whose cotton fibers are reused. 

    This type of raw material sourcing allows them to produce an article that can be defined as absolutely zero-waste.