229
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
I. B. Franco et al. (eds.), Actioning the Global Goals for Local Impact, Science
for Sustainable Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9927-6_15
Chapter 15
SDG 14 Life Below Water
Introducing Fish Skin as a Sustainable Raw
Material for Fashion
Elisa Palomino
Abstract In recent years there has been a growing interest in fish skin – a byproduct of the food industry – as an alternative sustainable raw material for fashion.
Global production of fish has steadily increased over the last decade, and more than
50% of the total remaining material from fish capture results in 32 million tonnes of
waste. A substantial amount of this waste is the skin of the fish; only a small percentage of this skin is processed into leather. While, to date, the European
Environment Agency allows seafood processors to dispose of fish skins in marine
waters, this is expected to change as the decomposing organic waste can suck up
available oxygen from marine species and introduce disease into the local ecosystem. Fish skin leather processing could prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution and sustainably protect marine ecosystems in order to achieve healthy and
productive oceans. This paper describes the conditions necessary for the development of fish skin craftsmanship within a Fashion Higher Education sustainable curriculum. In order to enhance the innovation and sustainable design of fish leather
products, the author has developed an impactful capacity-building approach connecting fashion students with the Icelandic fish leather industry, which is renowned
for sustainable sourcing from Nordic fish farms, promoting the sustainable use of
ocean-based resources.
Keywords Fish skin · Food industry by-product · Sustainable management of the
oceans · Arctic economic growth of fisheries · Fashion education for sustainability
E. Palomino (*)
Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London, UK
e-mail: e.palomino@csm.arts.ac.uk
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
I. B. Franco et al. (eds.), Actioning the Global Goals for Local Impact, Science
for Sustainable Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9927-6_15
Chapter 15
SDG 14 Life Below Water
Introducing Fish Skin as a Sustainable Raw
Material for Fashion
Elisa Palomino
Abstract In recent years there has been a growing interest in fish skin – a byproduct of the food industry – as an alternative sustainable raw material for fashion.
Global production of fish has steadily increased over the last decade, and more than
50% of the total remaining material from fish capture results in 32 million tonnes of
waste. A substantial amount of this waste is the skin of the fish; only a small percentage of this skin is processed into leather. While, to date, the European
Environment Agency allows seafood processors to dispose of fish skins in marine
waters, this is expected to change as the decomposing organic waste can suck up
available oxygen from marine species and introduce disease into the local ecosystem. Fish skin leather processing could prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution and sustainably protect marine ecosystems in order to achieve healthy and
productive oceans. This paper describes the conditions necessary for the development of fish skin craftsmanship within a Fashion Higher Education sustainable curriculum. In order to enhance the innovation and sustainable design of fish leather
products, the author has developed an impactful capacity-building approach connecting fashion students with the Icelandic fish leather industry, which is renowned
for sustainable sourcing from Nordic fish farms, promoting the sustainable use of
ocean-based resources.
Keywords Fish skin · Food industry by-product · Sustainable management of the
oceans · Arctic economic growth of fisheries · Fashion education for sustainability
E. Palomino (*)
Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London, UK
e-mail: e.palomino@csm.arts.ac.uk