Mégisserie Richard, renowned for crafting premium leather for high-end accessories, attire, and footwear, is progressing its collaboration with Qualus by incorporating Sferes™ in its Millau, France-based tannery operations.
Following a year of promising trials that showcased a 40% reduction in water usage and a 15% decrease in chemical consumption during the retanning process, the firm is set to upscale the application of Sferes for its production line. Mégisserie Richard, already accredited with a Leather Working Group (LWG) silver rating, aspires to achieve gold status, buoyed by the anticipated additional water conservation. Notably, Sferes have been deployed across various tanneries in Asia and Latin America for an array of leather goods including footwear, fashion items, and automotive interiors. Mégisserie Richard’s adoption of this technology marks a pioneering step for the French luxury leather sector in embracing sustainable practices.
Geoffrey Talpe, Mégisserie Richard’s CEO, expressed the company’s dedication to sustainability, stating, “Our company is fully committed to achieving Net Zero and we are constantly in search of innovations that will enable us to deliver this goal. We have taken numerous steps in that direction in recent years and Qualus’ Sfere technology helps us to continue to further improve the environmental footprint of our tannery while maintaining the unique quality of our products.”
Vikrant Pratap, CEO of Qualus, reflected on the collaboration, saying, “We are proud to have the opportunity to work with such an iconic tannery and to be able to provide a technology that meets Mégisserie Richard’s exacting standards, supporting it in its drive to lead the luxury industry in not only the uniqueness of its products but also the sustainability of its operations.”
About Mégisserie Richard
Mégiserrie Richard was founded in the mid-19th century as part of the Richard Glove Factory to manufacture high quality leather for its renowned luxury gloves. Today the tannery specialises in lambskins for high-end luxury products: bags, shoes, garments and accessories. In 2013, Mégisserie Richard obtained the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) certification, a recognition from the French State of companies with artisanal and industrial savoir-faire. Being fully committed to environmental improvements, the tannery has been a Leather Working Group certified supplier since 2020, earning a Silver rating in its most recent audit in 2022. For more information visit www.megisserierichard.com.
About Qualus
Qualus provides a patented system to reduce both the environmental footprint and cost of leather production, helping tanneries and brands accelerate their journey to Net Zero. The company has operations in India, Mexico and Brazil, and leather made with its system is now in the supply chains of leading footwear, luxury and automotive brands. For more information visit www.qualus.com.
