HP Colomer Moda

Darryl Tones (GM Operations), John Corcoran (Infrastructure & Assets Manager), and Geoff Murdoch (Co-products Manager), recently visited Henan Prosper (HP) in China, a major customer that purchases around half of ANZCO Foods Rangitīkei skins that get salted at Tasman Tanning. HP also owns Christchurch-based GL Bowron.

HP is one of the largest tanneries in the world, supplying leather for fashion, furniture, and automative industries. Its 100-hectare site has the capacity for process two million hides per year, along with 40 million ovine skins. These are used to produce leather, 12,000 tonnes of wool, and 1m metres of yarn for the domestic market.

HP has made significant investments in sustainability, including US$91m to treat 40,000 tonnes of effluent per day, and the installation of 440,000 square metres of solar panels which generate 30% of its energy needs.

The visit provided valuable insight into where our products go, strengthened relationships with an important customer, and offered a close look at large-scale approaches to processing and sustainability.