Goatskins
Every year, tens of thousands of goat skins are being wasted. Unfortunately, there is little demand for them on the European leather market. But we think it's a shame to let such a valuable material go to waste.
Some goatskins find their way from regional butchers to the warehouse of G. Neuenschwander Söhne AG (GNS) in Emmental. The trade of raw hides forms the original core business of GNS. From goat and sheepskin to the fur of wild animals like deer and chamois all the way to fox fur – these have all been carefully preserved, stored, and traded for over 150 years.
However, in the past several years, the hide-trade has sharply fallen in response to decreased demand. This is partially due to trends in consumer behaviour: Cheaper, synthetic alternatives made from petroleum have replaced natural materials, and vegan living has also driven the demand for artificial leather and fur. On the other hand, tanning work has shifted to low-wage countries. It is also considerably cheaper for European tanneries to source their raw materials in Asia instead of using local resources. In a market where price rules, every penny counts.
All this has led to the growth of the GNS stockpile – and soon the warehouse will be bursting at the seams. It contains thousands of hides that are considered worthless on the market and are lying idle.
We want to counteract this development and make use of local resources instead of throwing them away. In our view, natural materials from Switzerland are much more sustainable and future-proof than their fossil fuel substitutes.
Bovine Hides
Nearly all of the cattle hides produced in Switzerland are processed due to their exceptional quality and high demand in the European market. Two Swiss companies manage the majority of the trade, with approximately 90% of the hides exported to Italy and the remainder distributed to other European countries.
We collect cattle hides in collaboration with various abattoirs in the cantons of Lucerne, Bern and Graubünden. These hides come exclusively from animals from organic, biodynamic (Demeter) and regenerative agriculture, mostly from suckler cow husbandry. By working closely with our partners, we can guarantee a high level of transparency regarding the origin of the animals.
Sheepskins
Sadly, most Swiss sheepskins are currently discarded. Instead, merino sheepskins are imported from New Zealand and Australia, where sheep graze outdoors year-round in sunnier, warmer climates. These conditions result in sheepskins with a different texture and quality.
In Switzerland, a different climate leads to the fact that the wool of sheep is softer and more likely to felt. Although the wool of Swiss sheep in general is a material that is hardly in demand, Swiss sheepskins are wonderful products of excellent quality.
Demand for Swiss sheepskins has grown significantly in recent years. GNS procures its skins from regional butchers in the cantons of Bern, Valais, and Grisons. The raw sheepskins are initially preserved at the company's own tannery, where they are then crafted into exquisite natural products.
