The event will take place from October 18-20 at Massey University’s Sport and Rugby Institute, situated in Palmerston North on the North Island of New Zealand, and will have a hybrid format.

During the conference, seven main themes will cover a wide range of topics to appeal to anyone involved in leather science or manufacturing, organisers said. These are:

  • Advances in basic leather science
  • Raw stock improvement
  • Cleaner leather production and closed-loop processing
  • Value-added uses for waste streams and by-products
  • Environmental protection and impact assessment
  • Industry 4.0. detection and traceability
  • Advances in machinery used in the leather processing industry.

Conference organiser and Director of the New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association (Lasra), Geoff Holmes, said: “The 12th AICLST Conference will provide a 3-day programme that seeks to stimulate discussion and bring together the wider leather community of scientists, leather manufacturing companies and chemical and equipment suppliers.

“It will showcase the latest advances in leather science and technology, promoting science excellence and impact in support of the drive towards more sustainable leather production.”

Full details can be found on the conference website.