Beyond Sustainable Zero: this topic will be discussed at the AICC Veneto Technical Conference on November 20
Anyone wishing to present their work at the conference is invited to submit an abstract by September 15
Keep reading...Regulations, chemical innovation, industrial processes, and research come together in a single day of discussion to shape the future of the Italian tanning industry. On Friday, October 9,
2026, the Hotel Lloyd’s Baia in Vietri sul Mare (Salerno) will host the 54th AICC National Conference, titled “Circular Synergy: Regulations, Chemistry, and Industrial Processes—An Alliance of Expertise for Sustainable Competitiveness.”
The event, organized by the Italian Association of Leather Chemists (AICC), is designed as an opportunity for in-depth discussion focused on the challenges that are reshaping the sector: from growing European regulatory pressure to the need to make environmental performance measurable, to new technologies capable of combining quality, innovation, and circularity.
After participant registration and the official opening, featuring remarks from the AICC president and local officials, the program will get underway with a presentation by Luca Marucci of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, who will address a highly topical issue: sustainability communication and the risks associated with greenwashing.
The credibility of ESG strategies will also be the focus of the presentation by Serena Portella, Sustainability Manager at Muno, which will address the importance of materiality, impact assessment, and data quality as tools for building truly verifiable sustainability.
Ample attention will be given to innovation applied to production processes. Marco Cazzola of GSC Group will present a study on the environmental and performance impact of crosslinking agents used in finishes for the automotive sector, while Dario Monolo of Icap Leather Chem will illustrate the role of tools such as ZDHC and Life Cycle Assessment in concretely measuring the value of sustainable innovation.In the second part of the conference, the focus will shift to concrete applications of the circular economy. Alberto Colella of Russo di Casandrino will present a project dedicated to recovering collagen from tanning waste for new production applications, while Daniela Caracciolo of Vignola Nobile will present the European H2OxyTan project, based on biodegradable metal complexes and an innovative wastewater treatment system using hydrogen peroxide and UV rays.
The automotive sector will take center stage again with a presentation by Luca Frighetto from Pasubio, who will present research on the reduction and monitoring of aldehydes through analytical approaches that offer alternatives to today’s most widely used standards.
Scientific research will offer further insights thanks to Italian Leather Research Institute (SSIP), which will present the Smart Leather Quality project, dedicated to the use of spectroscopy and intelligent vision systems to improve quality control and the sustainability of tanning processes.
Luca Pucci of Gori will conclude the series of presentations with an overview of the strategies and innovations developed in anticipation of the new European Directive on Urban Wastewater, a topic set to have significant implications for both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.
The conference will conclude with closing remarks, followed by a dinner hosted by the sponsors at the Hotel Lloyd’s Baia—an informal occasion designed to foster dialogue among companies, researchers, and professionals in the industry.
Registration is required to attend via the official website www.aicc.it
