Ibn Tofail University
From Lab to Local Community: Revolutionizing Traditional Vegetable Tanning for Sustainable Artisanal Livelihoods
Finalist, Benefitting Society
About
This project advances sustainable practices in the artisanal leather sector by improving vegetable tanning processes through research and innovation. It addresses critical environmental and quality challenges by reducing reliance on toxic chemicals and promoting the use of natural tannins extracted from locally available plant sources such as Mimosa bark. Through a combination of scientific research, field-based diagnostics, and process optimization, the project enhances production efficiency while minimizing pollution, waste, and resource consumption. It supports the transition toward cleaner, safer, and more responsible production systems. By strengthening artisans’ capacities and improving product quality, the initiative contributes to local economic development, job creation, and increased market competitiveness. Overall, the project demonstrates a scalable model for sustainable production, aligned with responsible consumption and production and decent work and economic growth.
Top 3 learnings
1. We learned that "going green" cannot come at the expense of quality
2. We acknowledged that scientific breakthroughs are meaningless without a collaborative ecosystem
3. We saw that sustainability thrives when it is framed for economic resilience and preservation of cultural heritage
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Benefitting Society | |
| Finalist, International |
