Ege University’s Department of Leather Engineering hosted the 8th International IAFLI (International Association for Leather Industry) Congress on November 6–7, 2025 in Izmir. With the theme “Innovative Approaches in the Leather Industry,” the congress highlighted groundbreaking scientific research and sustainable initiatives shaping the future of the global leather sector.
The IAFLI Congress reaffirmed that leather engineering is not merely a branch of manufacturing but a multidisciplinary scientific field combining chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental science.
Organized by the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Leather Engineering of Ege University, the congress was supported by IKSAD, INCDTP, ICPI, Universitatea Tehnica Gheorghe Asachi (IASI), Tomas Bata University (TBU), and the African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI). Institutions such as Eurofins and the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), India also contributed with keynote presentations.
Opening and Keynote Sessions
The opening ceremony featured speeches from Prof. Dr. Bahri Başaran (IAFLI 2025 President), Prof. Dr. Necdet Budak (Rector of Ege University), Prof. Dr. İlkin Şengün (Dean, Faculty of Engineering), Mehmet Eriten (İZBAŞ Board Member), and Halil Gündoğdu (Vice President, EDMİB).
Keynote addresses followed by Dr. S. Rajamani (Vice President, Indian Leather Technologists Association) on “Environmental Risk in Continued Usage of Sodium Sulphide in Leather Process and Sustainable Technologies for Waste Treatment”, and Dr. Tuncay Yakalı, Emeritus Professor at Ege University, with “Leather; Indispensable Passion.”
Sessions and International Presentations
The congress featured five major sessions focusing on environmental responsibility, innovative tanning methods, digital transformation, and material innovation.
- Dr. Onur Görgün – From Compliance to Performance (Turkish Tanners Association – Sustainnery)
- Dr. Nuri Azbar – From Waste to Worth: Greening the Leather Industry Through Circular and Clean Production
- Fikret Ünal (Derimod) – Consumer Perception of Leather and Sustainability in Fashion
- Muammer Anıl Sayın (ETKO) – Sustainability and Traceability for the Leather Industry
- Javier Chico & Emanuele Mattiolo (Stahl) – Next-Generation Solutions for High-Quality Leather Upgrading
Additionally, Katie Kutskill (Is It Leather?), joining online, emphasized the importance of “Communicating Leather’s Value.”
Scientific Papers and Future Outlook
The second day opened with the Harmancioğlu Memorial Lecture by Dr. Ahmet Baba (Boğaziçi University) and Dr. Mehmet Sarikanat (Ege University), who addressed “Sustainability via LCA and DPP in the EU Green Deal” and “Digital Product Passport.”
Later sessions explored diverse topics such as:
- Sustainable collagen hydrolysate production,
- Nanotechnology for antimicrobial leather surfaces,
- Digital twin integration in leather apparel production,
- Plant-based tanning innovations,
- Wastewater and waste minimization solutions.
Researchers from Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia presented online studies on circular economy applications and eco-friendly technologies.
Message from the Congress President
“The International IAFLI Congress has become a global platform where academia and industry meet to shape the future. The science of leather continues to be a guiding compass for both research and production,” said Prof. Dr. Bahri Başaran, President of IAFLI 2025.
