A set of activities is required for manufacturing and processing a product in any industry. Production activities for leather goods are carried out through the supply of raw materials, the realization of production processes, quality control, finished products, and storage in warehouses.
There are 3 main steps that are common to all leathers:
- Skin preparation step
- Leather tanning step
- Crusting phase
Before animal skins get to the tanning stage, they must be prepared in several stages. These steps include:
- Drying
- Soaking
- Lime
- Fleshing
- Descaling
- Addition of enzymatic raw materials
- Degreasing
- Acidification of the skin
Skin is known to be soft and elastic as long as it is moist and becomes fragile once it loses moisture. Now, if we moisturize the skin again, it will rot and decay. In leather production, tanning is a process in which the hide is not wet, but is soft and elastic, absorbs moisture, and does not rot. This is achieved using various methods and chemicals. Furthermore, Crusting is the step that creates shiny leather. In this step, the vegan leather that has been tanned for the first time is thinned and then tanned again. This process is done to add chemicals such as color.
how to start leather manufacturing industry
Today, manufacturing leather is considered an expertise. Many schools offer training courses for you to learn how to start your business and trade in the industry; in addition, the universities and institutes offer students specialized courses in leather and footwear. One of the most important questions for those wishing to enter the field of leather and leather goods production is how to obtain a legal license. You must remember that according to the rules, you need a permit even if you are producing leather goods from home under a home business plan. Legal licenses for the production of leather goods are divided into three groups. As we have already said, starting home leather production like leather furniture as a home business domain can be started by the workforce of only one person. You can benefit from the help of your family. The advantages of this approach are the use of cheap labor, a fair distribution of work based on abilities and skills, and your perfect familiarity with the workforce. When producing leather and leather products in workshops and factories, it is necessary to act according to labor needs and division of labor. For example, hire a tailor with the leather embroidery wheel working skill, or use a worker who has cutting skills; also use a simple worker to transport and move the finished product. The number of workers in workshops and factories producing leather depends on the expansion level of your company. The leather and leather products manufacturing industry is a highly profitable and lucrative industry. Proper packaging, professional marketing, pricing based on customer purchasing power, and multiple buying channels are the factors that make you successful in this market.
leather production by country
When talking about hide production, three major countries rise to the top, which by far make up the bulk leather production in the world. China is the world's largest leather producer, making over 6.2 billion square feet of leather annually, which accounts for over 25% of the world's annual leather production. China's leather industry has become one of the leather industry's biggest hubs, as heavy leather is produced for making belts, and furniture, while light faux leather is used for footwear, bags, and jackets. Most of China's leather production comes from shiny cowhide, which accounts for about 40% of total annual production, making China the world's largest cowhide producer. Sheep and goat skins are the second largest source of leather for the Chinese leather industry. China's dominance among the top ten leather-producing countries in the world is expected to strengthen further in the near future. Brazil is the second largest leather producer in the world. The Brazilian leather and leather industry makes over 2.4 billion square feet of leather annually. With approximately 1.8 billion square feet of leather produced annually from cattle, Brazil is the largest contributor to the Brazilian leather industry. Sheep and goat skins represent about 4% of the Brazilian leather industry. Additionally, a small amount of heavy leather production makes Brazil the second largest leather producer in the world. Russia is also one of the top three leather producers in the world in 2020. Russia was once the largest leather producer in the world, but its leather industry began to decline after the 1990s. Russia now produces 1 .4 billion square feet of leather annually, ranking third among the top ten leather-producing countries. Most of the leather produced in Russia is cowhide. Almost 8% of the leather is made from sheep and goats.
leather industry
Leather is one of human history's first inventions and practical achievements, a great invention that our ancestors used to protect themselves from environmental and natural events. Wild animals were hunted to use their meat as food, but this demand evolved, and the skins were later used to make shoes, clothing, and tents for shelter. The expansion and industrialization of the active market in the 18th and 19th centuries created new demands for leather and its use. Nowadays, lighter and more elegant shoes are required, and fundamental changes are made in the color and design of leather products. Tanned leather is very thick and unacceptable in the industrial age market, which is why chromium salts are used to complement interior decoration and the design of leather garments, bags, and shoes. Nevertheless, during the years of industrialization of leather, many people tended to buy and use genuine leather goods. Throughout history, humans have used various parts of the animal body for food and to make different tools. For example, early humans made shoes with animal skins to be able to walk more easily and better explore the ground on which they walked. Humans can make clothes from the skin of large animals. In cold weather, we wear the furry part to warm our bodies, and in hot weather, we drape our windows to keep the heat out. As human society has become complete, the uses of leather have also evolved. For example, leather has developed from a material used only to cover the body to a product used for leather armor, boots, living tents, writing and painting surfaces, and even jewelry making. 
leather industry pollution
One of the important industries and producers of industrial wastewater is the leather industry. The wastewater from this industry contains many pollutants such as high bod5, dye and color, soluble salts, and chemicals due to the additives used in the manufacturing steps. Therefore, since leather industry wastewater has three kinds of pollution: physical, chemical, and biological, leather industry wastewater should be treated carefully and thoroughly to reduce the damage to the environment. The most effective step in protecting the environment is to assess people's behavior and performance in achieving the basic principles of a sustainable lifestyle. Unless we achieve a sustainable economy, a sustainable society, and sustainable development, it is impossible to rely on environmentally friendly development. We should aim to help improve the condition of wastewater treatment plants and their performance in order to contribute to sustainable development. To do this, he first checked the available methods through objective observation and using a new approach. Unfortunately, the performance of sewage treatment plants is not optimal, not at all up to standard, and does not effectively carry out any treatment in the wastewater. By examining the existing conditions, before the treatment plant commissioning, the best solution is to follow the method of reducing the amount of wastewater generated and, with good management, to reduce the use of substances that cause the most damage to sewage, such as chrome. A good relationship with the industry reduces the amount it contributes to the environment, so less chromium is released into wastewater and the environment. Knowing that water is the only and most important living substance and cannot be replaced by any other means leaves no choice but to conserve water supplies. 
importance of leather industry
Experts believe that the leather industry in any country has high foreign exchange earnings, entrepreneurship, and employability. Since the prosperity of the leather industry plays a key role in the economic structure of a country, it is necessary for governments everywhere not to overlook the importance of the tanning industry and to provide the necessary support to the activists in this field. This industry is one of the most local in any country and certainly has a lot to say. Regarding the state of the leather industry in the world, it is good to know that the leather industry is employment-oriented and has high added value. Due to the critical importance of the leather industry's economy and its role in exports, governments around the world have drawn up detailed plans to achieve optimal exports in this sector so that it can continue to grow and remain viable. The leather goods market exports leather in the form of bags, shoes, jackets, belts, etc. 
and is significantly more profitable than exporting it as a raw material; therefore, the country's planning and policies must move in this direction. The footwear industry is one of the job and currency-generating sectors in the world, and fortunately, the world's industry is progressing more and more toward this goal.