Demonstration of Clean Technologies in Tanning Process

The objective of the ECOTAN project is the demonstration and promotion of clean technologies in the Egyptian tanneries by means of creating an environmental structure through:
1. Hardware
• Setting up a Laboratory for Environmental Analysis.

• Demonstration of a pilot Tanning Drum.
• Demonstration of a Physical-Chemical Wastewater Treatment Pilot Plant.
2. Software
The Hardware is complemented by training the technical staff on different kinds of environmental analysis and the use of the two pilot plants.

 Project Objectives
Technical assistance to Egyptian tanneries in order to increase its competitiveness through:
• Production costs minimization.
• Quality improvement.
• Applying new technologies in tanning and finishing processes.
• Establishing new markets for Egyptian products.
• Increasing added value.
• Increasing productivity.
• Certification through environmental compliance.
• Development of new industries besides leather tanning (e.g. gelatin, wool, etc…)
 Why Ecotan?
Tanning industry in the Egyptian sector suffers from complex problems associated with:
• Poor technology
• Severe pollution problems
• Un-trained workers
• Huge waste occurring due to inefficient use of resources
• Low export levels due to un-compatibility to environmental requirements
• Limited investment in the sector
• Need of an infrastructure to provide environmental services for the tanneries.
• Need to introduce new and clean technologies in tanneries.
• Need of wastewater treatment facilities.
 Project Activities
The project is divided into 5 main activities:
1. Carrying on an environmental diagnosis to study environmental compliance needs for leather and tanning sector in Egypt.
2. Establishing an environmental Laboratory to serve Egyptian leather and tanning sector.
3. Designing and setting up a tanning pilot plant.
4. Demonstrating a wastewater treatment pilot plant for tanning processes.
5. Dissemination activities and of project results.

Ecotan Premises
The environmental unit of the Ecotan Premises has been selected and contracted at the tanneries area in old Cairo – Magra el Aoyon.