Use of plant extracts for finishing natural leather

Currently, the use of synthetic dyes in the finishing process of leather products causes environmental problems. The aim of this work is to use environmentally friendly plant extracts for finishing natural sheepskin leather as a solution to this problem. The finishing process uses extracts of oak bark (Cortex Quercus), agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L.), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), and «Aquanat Chlorophyll» as a natural dye. The use of plant extracts in the leather industry helps to reduce the amount of chemicals in the finished leather and has a positive impact on the environment. The article describes methods for obtaining natural extracts from these plants and the technology for their use in the processing of raw leather. Plant extracts are a renewable resource. The use of tannin rich plant extracts provides a sustainable and environmentally responsible alternative in leather production. Plant extracts have antimicrobial properties, promote the removal of formaldehyde and can be used as natural dyes in leather processing. In this regard, there is a need to use environmentally friendly plant extracts in leather production, which allows solving the tasks of the «green economy» in terms of environmental protection. Chrome-tanned leather from small ruminant hides, manufactured at the «Taraz Leather Factory» LLP, was used as the object of research.