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Great Greenland looking for sealskin replacement
State-owned tanner Great Greenland is look to the animal kingdom to help it break its reliance on sealskin as its main source of income. The Qaqortoq-based company is currently carrying out pilot projects using reindeer hide and lambskin. It also intends to look into whether musk oxen hide could be a suitable replacement. In addition to seeking to lessen its reliance on sealskin in the face of an EU ban and activist criticism, Great Greenland says using other types of hides will allow it to utilise excess tanning capacity. Great Greenland's tannery can process as many as 150,000 skins annually, but the number of sealskins it purchases each year has fallen steadily since 2005, when a record 120,000 sealskins passed through the Qaqortoq plant. Henrik Estrup, Great Greenland's managing director, said that if the projects turn out successful the company could wind up expanding capacity and importing skins. Great Greenland has created a national network of purchasers who ensure that sealskins are stored correctly before being shipped to its tannery. A similar network would be unnecessary, according to Estrup, who said the skins come from animals raised and processed for food. 'That already guarantees that the hides are in good shape when we get them,' he said. Before a final decision is made, Estrup said Great Greenland will need to consider a number of factors, such as whether the price of lamb, which is currently low, would rise significantly in the future. He added that the company has yet to determine whether there is a market for such products. In a related story, one designer is looking to use sharkskin in her designs as a sustainable replacement for sealskin. 'It's uncertain how marketable sealskin will be in the future,' said Nauja Lynge Lyngesen, of Arctic Designers in the Danish city of Århus. 'Tourists in Greenland pass over sealskin products, especially Americans, as they are banned there.' She said the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) was the ideal replacement. 'Sharks aren't considered cute like seals are. And fisherman can use sharks they catch while fishing for other species of fish.' Using sharkskin also had positive marketing aspects as well, according to Lyngesen, including showing the world that Greenland takes a sustainable approach to marine resources. Great Greenland's Henrik Estrup said his company would continue to focus on its current pilot projects before considering using sharkskin.
State-owned tanner Great Greenland is look to the animal kingdom to help it break its reliance on sealskin as its main source of income. The Qaqortoq-based company is currently carrying out pilot projects using reindeer hide and lambskin. It also intends to look into whether musk oxen hide could be a suitable replacement. In addition to seeking to lessen its reliance on sealskin in the face of an EU ban and activist criticism, Great Greenland says using other types of hides will allow it to utilise excess tanning capacity. Great Greenland's tannery can process as many as 150,000 skins annually, but the number of sealskins it purchases each year has fallen steadily since 2005, when a record 120,000 sealskins passed through the Qaqortoq plant. Henrik Estrup, Great Greenland's managing director, said that if the projects turn out successful the company could wind up expanding capacity and importing skins. Great Greenland has created a national network of purchasers who ensure that sealskins are stored correctly before being shipped to its tannery. A similar network would be unnecessary, according to Estrup, who said the skins come from animals raised and processed for food. 'That already guarantees that the hides are in good shape when we get them,' he said. Before a final decision is made, Estrup said Great Greenland will need to consider a number of factors, such as whether the price of lamb, which is currently low, would rise significantly in the future. He added that the company has yet to determine whether there is a market for such products. In a related story, one designer is looking to use sharkskin in her designs as a sustainable replacement for sealskin. 'It's uncertain how marketable sealskin will be in the future,' said Nauja Lynge Lyngesen, of Arctic Designers in the Danish city of Århus. 'Tourists in Greenland pass over sealskin products, especially Americans, as they are banned there.' She said the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) was the ideal replacement. 'Sharks aren't considered cute like seals are. And fisherman can use sharks they catch while fishing for other species of fish.' Using sharkskin also had positive marketing aspects as well, according to Lyngesen, including showing the world that Greenland takes a sustainable approach to marine resources. Great Greenland's Henrik Estrup said his company would continue to focus on its current pilot projects before considering using sharkskin.
Greenland Shark Skin
Arctic designers will soon introduce you to Greenland shark skin and greenland wolffish skin. Greenland shark skin is one of the toughest leathers, which is 7-11 times stronger than cow skin.
Arctic designers will soon introduce you to Greenland shark skin and greenland wolffish skin. Greenland shark skin is one of the toughest leathers, which is 7-11 times stronger than cow skin.
Innovative Arctic Designers
New in Greenland - Haptic Interface
With Haptic Interface you can feel surfaces over long distances. Nauja Lyngesen tests this system in cooperation with Innovation Lab in Aarhus, Denmark, in connection with her design work
Below recording is in Danish
