A firm that makes the leather in top sports cars is racing 20 years ahead of the country’s net zero ambitions.
The Scottish Leather Company, which makes the interiors for the McLaren F1 fleet, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the DeLorean DMC-12, is now the world’s lowest carbon leather manufacturer.
The Renfrewshire firm will be carbon neutral by 2025 – 20 years ahead of Scotland’s net zero aim.
Its luxury leathers are also used by 160 airlines, on buses, coaches and railways and in the marine and furniture industries as well as hotels, restaurants and government buildings.
Dr Warren Bowden, innovation director, said: “Sustainability is going to be at the core of decision making going forward and a linear approach where waste ends up in landfill will not be accepted.
“Within the manufacturing industry, in particular, there is a huge responsibility to act fast but there is also an opportunity from getting ahead of net zero targets to help to meet customer-driven environmental targets.”
The firm, which includes the brands Bridge of Weir Leather, Lang and Muirhead, could achieve zero-impact leather manufacturing within four years after recording a carbon footprint of just 1.1kg of CO2 per hide – a 90 per cent reduction from 10.3kg 20 years ago.
Initiatives include a thermal energy plant that turns waste into heat and a water treatment and recycling plant.
More than 80 per cent of waste is diverted from landfill.
