Cleaner Production Standard Issued In Leather Industry

Recently, the Ministry of environmental protection issued the first two cleaner production standards for cleaner production standard leather industry (Niu Qingji) (HJ 448-2008) and clean production standard synthetic leather industry (HJ 449-2008), which has been officially implemented since February 1, 2009.

It is learnt that the two criteria are formulated for the implementation of the environmental protection law of the People's Republic of China and the law on cleaner production promotion in People's Republic of China, which will help to protect the environment and provide technical support and guidance for cleaner production in leather industry (cattle light leather).

The standards stipulate the general requirements for cleaner production of tannery industry (Niu Qingji) and synthetic leather industrial enterprises on the basis of national and local environmental standards and according to the current level of industrial technology, equipment and management.

The standard is divided into three levels, the first level represents the advanced level of international clean production, the two level represents the advanced level of domestic clean production, and the three level represents the basic level of domestic cleaner production.

Due to the continuous progress and development of technology, this standard will also be constantly revised, generally revised in three to five years.

Among them, the cleaner production standard leather industry (Niu Qingji) (HJ 448-2008) standard stipulates the general requirements for cleaner production of tannery industry (cattle light leather).

Standards will be divided into six categories, namely, production technology and equipment requirements, resource and energy utilization indicators, product indicators, pollutant production indicators (before end treatment), waste recycling targets and environmental management requirements.

It is applicable to cleaner production audit, cleaner production potential and opportunity judgement, cleaner production performance evaluation and cleaner production performance announcement system in tannery industry (cattle light leather) production enterprises, and also applies to environmental impact assessment, sewage permit management and other environmental management systems.

The standard of cleaner production standard synthetic leather industry (HJ 449-2008) stipulates the general requirements for cleaner production of synthetic leather industry.

Standards will be divided into five categories, namely, production technology and equipment requirements, resource and energy utilization indicators, pollutant generation targets (before end treatment), waste recycling targets and environmental management requirements.

It is suitable for the clean production audit, clean production potential and opportunity judgement of synthetic leather (polyurethane as the main raw material, excluding superfine fiber substrate), as well as cleaner production performance evaluation and cleaner production performance announcement system. It also applies to environmental impact assessment and sewage disposal permit environmental management system.

Wang Xiaonan: editor in charge