Henan Prosper

HP & Colomer Group, as a leader in the industry, looks to maintain the essence of leather making and continues to explore the effective use of resources and the protection of the ecological environment, which has always been the long-term strategic direction.
We look to further improve our sustainability through three aspects.
1. The product 2. The supply chain 3. The operation

1. Raw materials and products
HP & Colomer Group sources premium materials globally and sets up traceability for all its products in accordance with international standards. As a side industry of animal husbandry, we control the material in the upstream and produce high-quality sustainable products for global consumers, based on market demand.

Traceability of raw materials
In our case, we are able to implement strict traceability standards as we are located at the source where the materials are coming from and we can work with our suppliers directly to ensure that traceability standards are met.
To achieve biodegradation for our skins and leathers, we tan the raw material in a special way, using several kinds of customised chemicals, many of which are also bio-based, and in this way we can reduce the harm to the environment.

2. Premium Supplier System
The second aspect of our environmental plan is through a premium supply system. We search globally for the industry’s best suppliers to work collaboratively and to develop together with our partners, customers, and suppliers.

We ensure that our suppliers strictly adhere to HP & Colomer Group’s code of conduct as well as our sustainable development policies and standards.

HP & Colomer’s use of environmentally friendly and degradable chemicals aims to achieve zero-chemical residue in our finished products.

3. Internal Operation (HP and Colomer Group)
We believe responsibility creates excellence. The aim is to refine every separate process individually, with the goal of achieving the highest standards in sustainability.
Manufacturing: As mentioned before, the best products come from having the best materials. However, that is only one step in the system. Manufacturing process improvements are critical to reducing the wastewater emission, minimising the use of harmful chemicals and recycling waste materials. From the design of our plant’s architecture to the layout of the industrial layout, HP & Colomer Group has fully considered energy conservation and wastewater management.

Eco-focused plant design
The plant uses a large number of natural lighting systems and thermal insulation materials to minimise energy consumption and maximise recycling and recovery to achieve environmental protection and meet our safety goals for product related environmental protection.

ECO TAN
1. Reduce the use of chemicals in the production process will lead to lower chemical residue on the product.
2. ECO Tan reduces the total amount of chromium-containing wastewater by 70%, the chromium-containing concentration in wastewater is reduced by 75% when compared to traditional processes, thus reducing the pressure of treatment of chromium-containing wastewater in sewage treatment plant.
3. Automation and upgraded equipment also have a net positive impact on energy consumption and water consumption reductions.
4. 50% of the treated wastewater can be recycled and reused in our production process.

Eco-dye achieves a fully recycled workshop, and the wastewater utilisation rate reaches 100% through patented processes.

Environmental Management
Henan Prosper has built the largest sewage treatment system in the global fur tanning industry and has strong controls in place to ensure its operation is always running smoothly.
On the basis of realising comprehensive utilisation, energy saving and emission reduction, it upgrades and transforms production wastewater treatment. It has also invested over US$100 million to construct a modern state of the art sewage treatment plant with an area of 166,000 square meters and daily treatment capacity of 40,000 tons.

Emission reduction and governance VOCS
VOC is the abbreviation for volatile organic compounds.
Since 2018, HP & Colomer Group has invested 80 million RMB to start the renovation of the park and restore and upgrade the shoe factory, as well as achieving emission reduction of VOCs in the shoe factory, tanning and spraying workshop. Overall, a reduction in organic volatile matter and harmful residue substances such as chloride and nitrogen chloride in industrial dust has been achieved. Now, clean production can be implemented from the source through industrial upgrading, therefore VOC emission reduction can be effectively realised.

Sludge Drying
HP and Colomer Group has invested nearly US$200 million in 2019 to build a new solid waste resource utilisation project. It plans to recycle industrial solid waste through incineration, gasification and other processes, achieving the reclamation and minimisation in a harmless manner.

Future Direction
HP & Colomer Group will promote the development of scientific research in the leather industry in terms of industrial, production and environmental aspects. As far as the industrial aspect is concerned, it includes raw material traceability and the development of superior raw materials. As far as the production aspect is concerned, it includes process optimisation, automated production, energy saving and emission reduction, cleaner production and low carbon emission reduction. As far as the environmental aspect is concerned, it includes the reuse of reclaimed water, the reduction of pollutants, the reduction of solid waste, effective use of renewable energy and so on. In the future, HP & Colomer Group hopes to make the leather industry a voice for sustainable development through its own operation behaviours and long-term, high-quality development practices.

Message from the CEO
“Environmental protection is our core principle on which we stand and which is also a new focus of our customers. With continuous improvements through innovation R&D, we will become the leader in sustainable and eco-friendly leather products.
Our goal is to build the premier “Green factory” (creating lean and sustainable manufacturing) and to optimise the production environment. Not only will we be responsible for our products, but we also have a duty of care for our employees, providing our staff with good living conditions and encouraging work-life balance, which leads to increased staff morale and an overall better environment.
Regardless of staff talent, manufacturing or market share, we must always uphold, prioritise and emphasise the concept of recycling.
Sewage treatment plants, sludge drying project, and photovoltaic power generation - these are key areas that will determine how far we can go in the future.”

Michael Lyu
HP GROUP CEO

*This article is an advertorial feature provided by Henan Prosper.