Tap the opportunity for low-water leather

Sustainability can feel slightly nebulous at times, particularly in an industry as broad and varied as automotive. While that umbrella term leaves plenty of room for ambiguity, the benefits of reduced water consumption are easily relatable.

This is exactly what HEARTH, a new leather from global family business Rino Mastrotto, has developed. Following success in the world of fashion, the material has been transformed to suit the strict needs of automotive interiors and has been described by third-generation family members Barbara and Matteo Mastrotto as a fusion of “passion and innovation.”

According to Matteo Mastrotto, Rino Mastrotto Group CEO and head of the Luxury Creations division, HEARTH brings together the words ‘heart’ and ‘earth’, which is apt for a product that aims to stoke emotion while caring for the planet. “There’s a strong crossover between luxury fashion and the premium and luxury automotive sector, especially around design, craftsmanship, brand experience and personalisation.

"In tandem, HEARTH symbolises our commitment to sustainability and the central role it plays in everything we do,” he explains. “Sustainability is not simply part of our approach: it is at the heart of our activities, guiding the way we innovate, produce, and look to the future.”

This soft-touch leather has plenty going for it on that front, chiefly a 91% reduction in water consumption during retanning, dyeing and fatliquoring stages compared to conventional bovine leather production. In simple terms, one square metre of HEARTH leather saves nearly 38 litres of water while retaining a level of quality derived from high fashion. Most CDN readers will be familiar with the water-intensive nature of a tannery, so any steps to reduce that can be considered very high value indeed.

HEARTH’s carbon footprint is also 22% lower during those processes generating a notable 6% carbon footprint reduction in core (tannery gate-to-gate), and the overall impact on the environment significantly lower still: freshwater eutrophication (which leads to unwanted algae) and ecotoxicity (the potential chemical harm to natural ecosystems) are calculated to be 25% and 7% lower, respectively, than conventional industry norms for retanning, dyeing and fatliquoring stages. Importantly, these figures are not internal but the result of an independent comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) which validated HEARTH’s ecological benefits.

“Being true to our heritage within innovation we are always looking to find alternatives to standard processes that can both improve the product and reduce its impact on the environment,” says Barbara Mastrotto, who leads the Automotive & Mobility division. “Water is vital to nature but also essential for a tannery, which prompted us to find a better balance between saving water while maintaining the trustability of our product. With leather, even a small change can make a big difference – it is like a recipe in the kitchen – so we had to find a new setup that delivers the same great result.”

By all accounts that has been achieved, but it was not easy. The automotive industry’s stringent technical considerations mean HEARTH required further development from its fashion roots and rigorous testing to meet safety and durability standards. “The material we transform caters to the senses and maintaining those sensations were key for this project,” says Barbara. “The product must be emotionally desirable and cater to the senses, not just functional and durable,” emphasises Matteo Mastrotto.

At its core, natural leather wraps surfaces in a luxurious, soft-touch material that elevates the driving experience. Customers expect high comfort, a high-end appearance and even an appealing aroma. Such a material cannot compromise on its core competencies, and both Barbara and Matteo are well aware of this.

“Automotive has the highest technical specifications, particularly around durability, which we address during both the tanning and the finishing process of the hides,” Barbara explains. “We have been able to maintain the softness and a feeling of luxury while also continuing to support the colour palettes and durability requirements our automotive customers expect.”

HEARTH’s anti-soiling properties should not be overlooked either given the material’s proximity to things like fizzy drinks, coffee and other potential stains and marks that might arise during a car’s daily life. The same can be said of flammability, but leather is of course inherently flame retardant.

It is fitting that the development of this emotional yet innovative material has been spearheaded by third-generation family members in Barbara and Matteo Mastrotto. Both share the passion instilled from their forebears while continuing to push product development across their divisions. And sustainability has been ingrained in these business leaders from the beginning.

“The passion our father taught us starts with the product, but it is very closely linked to our sustainability mindset which we initiated during the late 1990s,” says Barbara Mastrotto. “Sustainability is not linked to today’s vogue that everyone now follows to extract added value, it is simply embedded in our DNA.”

And yet there may indeed be added value, particularly in the eyes of more eco-conscious drivers who place a premium on products that care for the earth. As Barbara Mastrotto puts it: “If passengers are aware they are sitting on leather that was produced with dramatically less water, they will no doubt feel more responsible and friendly towards the environment.” Matteo adds that “people buy into a heritage, a lifestyle and a compelling story, not simply a tangible product.”

HEARTH was launched for the automotive industry earlier this year during Car Design Dialogues in Milan and is available for serial production via exclusive partnerships.

To experience more sustainable innovations and circular solutions, explore the International Trend Show ‘In Emotion’, which is hosted by Rino Mastrotto’s automotive daughter brands Elmo Leather and Brusarosco.

‘In Emotion’ launches in Sweden ahead of a wider tour in the US, Germany, Italy and the UK during autumn and winter 2026.