Oral
Abstract
Research summary supplied by the authors
The leather industry is increasingly challenged by the hazardous nature of bisphenol S (BPS) and the stringent regulations imposed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on its use in leather and related chemicals. This study aims to develop a sustainable , economical, and industrially viable process for producing bisphenol-free syntans based on traditional and highly effective di -hydroxy di-phenyl sulphone (DDS) based polymer. Our research evaluat ed commercial alternatives from 2023 -2024, primarily based on phenolic syntans, which may still contain bisphenol F. However, this phenolic syntans exhibited reduced efficacy in terms of retanning power, requiring higher quantities to achieve the same performance as DDS-based syntans. This raised the question of whether it was feasible and worthwhile to retain the former BPS -based chemistry while eliminating BPS to maintain performance levels. The GSC Group has pioneered a manufacturing and synthetic route to eliminate all bisphenols from syntan production (bisphenol A, F, S etc.), resulting in bisphenol-free versions of existing products that offer equal or superior performance s. This development not only complies with regulatory requirements but also supports the industry's transition towards safer and more sustainable practices.