Vegetable Tanning

POLOLOs are guaranteed chromate-free and uncoated
To avoid the risk of allergic reactions and diseases

POLOLO has consciously and consistently used only purely vegetable-tanned leather from the very beginning.

Allergy and even cancer risk: avoid chromate in leather at all costs!

Experts estimate that despite an EU regulation from 2014, around 20 percent of leather shoes sold in Germany still contain significant amounts of chromate (chrome VI), even though it is banned. However, since chrome VI residues are odourless, detection is only possible with elaborate laboratory tests.
According to the findings of medical experts, there are already 500,000 people in Germany who are affected by a chromate allergy – and this trend is rising. The sensitisation triggered by contact with chromate, for example in leather shoes, remains virulent for a lifetime. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to avoid the use of chrome salts in leather tanning and to consistently use the traditional method of vegetable tanning.

Vegetable tanning with renewable raw materials offers many advantages

The consistent use of purely vegetable tanned leather offers many advantages in the evaluation of the entire process chain and avoids problems and dangers. Chrome-tanned leathers are always grey at the end of the tanning process, so that it is always necessary to dye such leathers.
With vegetable tanned leathers, however, this is not necessary, because the colour of the tanning plant can be left as it is, i.e. it can be specifically selected: Rhubarb, for example, dyes yellow and using tara leads to white. Dyeing can therefore be carried out directly during the tanning process with the vegetable tanning agent, which is harmless to health.