​Bridge of Weir, Scotland – Muirhead, a trusted supplier of Fine Scottish Leather to some of the world’s most respected passenger transport and aviation brands, will showcase its self-disinfecting ActiveHygiene technology at Euro Bus Expo 2022 in Birmingham next week.
 
Developed to safeguard passengers and rebuild confidence after COVID-19, Muirhead’s ActiveHygiene leather with Polygiene Biomaster ViralOff® technology is a sustainable product with built-in antimicrobial self-cleaning properties – permanently integrated into the leather during production.
 
Kevin Smith, Head of Mass Transit, Muirhead, said: “Since the pandemic, the bus and coach sector has seen a rapid increase in demand for best-in-class seat hygiene. This is why we’re proud to showcase Muirhead’s innovative ActiveHygiene technology – an immediate solution to the challenges of the pandemic, enhancing the hygiene and protection of passenger transport interiors for the future.”
 
Using the latest ViralOff® technology, developed by Swedish company Polygiene AB, Muirhead’s ActiveHygiene leather reduces bacteria and viruses including SARS-CoV-2 – the cause of COVID-19 – by more than 99% in less than two hours.*
 
Renowned for creating the lowest carbon leather in the world, Muirhead is trusted by most European bus, coach, and rail operators for its exceptional durability, comfort, and reduced total cost of ownership.

​Archie Browning, Sales Director, Muirhead, added: “Muirhead has been manufacturing the finest sustainable Scottish leather since 1840, with innovation at the very heart of the business. Known for its luxury and durability, Muirhead has developed new products that offer a more hygienic solution for customers increasingly focused on well-being and lighter weight materials – supporting the move to greater efficiency and greener mobility solutions.”
 
“All Muirhead leather is made in the UK and sets the benchmark as the lowest carbon leather available to the transportation sector – making it the most durable, hard-wearing, and long-lasting material for bus and coach interiors.”
 
Visitors to this year’s Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham can meet the Muirhead team at stand C78. Seat designs using high-performance Muirhead leather will also be on display at the Isringhausen, Lazzerini, Alexander Dennis, Kiel Seating, TEK Seating, Chapman Driver Seats, and Pelican Bus & Coach.

​NOTES TO EDITORS
 
*Against tested viruses, SARS-CoV-2, H3N2 and H1N1 - according to ISO18184:2019. No specialist cleaning is required. Polygiene Biomaster ViralOff® does not prevent diseases but protects the treated material.
 
Polygiene Biomaster antimicrobial technology complements existing cleaning protocols, working between cleans. Treatment is always-on, built-in to the leather as part of our sustainable manufacturing process. Tested to 50,000 cycles on the Martindale abrasion rub test (ISO 12947-2).
 
About Muirhead
 
Muirhead, established in 1840 and part of the Scottish Leather Group, is one of Europe's oldest tanneries; it is widely recognised as a leader in responsible and future-looking innovation of a versatile range of Fine Scottish Leather for a select group of prestigious global brands. Muirhead leathers are made to travel the world - on 160 airlines, in mass transit cabins, and in the marine, furniture, and luxury goods industries.
 
www.muirhead.co.uk
 
About the Scottish Leather Group
Founded in 1965, Scottish Leather Group (SLG) is the leading manufacturer of leather in the United Kingdom and produces the finest sustainable leather for the world’s most respected companies.
 
Through its specialist businesses - Bridge of Weir Leather, Lang and Muirhead – the Group leads the leather industry in the responsible and sustainable production of leather and serves the global automotive, aviation, bus, coach, rail, furniture, and consumer goods sectors from its operations located in Scotland, China, and Mexico.
 
https://www.scottishleathergroup.com

Bridge of Weir, Scotland – Muirhead, a trusted supplier of Fine Scottish Leather to some of the world’s most respected airlines and seat manufacturers, has joined the Green Cabin Alliance (GCA) to reaffirm its commitment to creating the world’s lowest carbon leather.
 
Muirhead, part of the Scottish Leather Group, operates a unique, cutting-edge circular process for leather manufacture – incorporating energy recovery, water recycling, renewable energy, and locally sourced traceable hides.
 
Dr Warren Bowden, Head of Sustainability and Innovation, Scottish Leather Group, said: “We’re proud to be the global leader in responsible leather production, and so we look forward to taking concrete steps towards the decarbonisation of aircraft cabins – and working with respected industry partners who share our commitment to lower-carbon and naturally sustainable materials in cabin design.
 
“As a by-product of the food industry, real leather is naturally sustainable – and so is our business. Thanks to our innovative manufacturing processes, we’ve created the world’s lowest carbon intensity leather, backed by rigorous analysis. Working with our Green Cabin Alliance partners, we encourage the cabin design and manufacturing sector to ramp up their carbon footprint reporting and take full-life emissions into account.”
 
Elina Kopola, Founding Director of the Green Cabin Alliance, said: “The Green Cabin Alliance is excited to welcome new member Muirhead, a globally renowned supplier of leather materials for cabin and other applications, to our growing group of organisations who are placing sustainability high on their agendas. The GCA looks forward to collaborating with Muirhead in addressing the challenge of creating more sustainable, resilient supply chains in our industry. We hope that our relationship with Muirhead will help us to advance the overall aims of the GCA, by leveraging their knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm when it comes to sustainability.”
 
Trusted by more than 160 airlines and manufacturers globally, Muirhead’s high-performance aviation leather is a 100% circular product. The group’s significant investments in circular manufacturing have enabled it to minimise waste to landfill and radically reduce its carbon footprint – from farm to cut material and seat covers.
 
The process involves a patented thermal energy plant that generates heat from waste to power the tannery, sourcing and recycling water from its very own loch, and a pioneering 'Take-Back Scheme' for end-of-life leather products.
 
Besides joining the GCA, Muirhead and the Scottish Leather Group are committed to the UN Global Compact and measure their sustainability performance against all 17 Sustainability Development Goals. The group has been awarded Gold standard by the Leather Working Group and achieved an overall score of 95%, with 100% on traceability.

NOTES TO EDITORS 

About Muirhead
 
Muirhead, established in 1840 and part of the Scottish Leather Group, is one of Europe's oldest tanneries; it is widely recognised as a leader in responsible and future-looking innovation of a versatile range of Fine Scottish Leather for a select group of prestigious global brands. Muirhead leathers are made to travel the world - on 160 airlines, in mass transit cabins, and in the marine, furniture, and luxury goods industries.
 
www.muirhead.co.uk
 
About the Scottish Leather Group
 
Founded in 1965, Scottish Leather Group (SLG) is the leading manufacturer of leather in the United Kingdom and produces the finest sustainable leather for the world’s most respected companies.
 
Through its specialist businesses - Bridge of Weir Leather, Lang and Muirhead – the Group leads the leather industry in the responsible and sustainable production of leather and serves the global automotive, aviation, bus, coach, rail, furniture, and consumer goods sectors from its operations located in Scotland, China, and Mexico.
 
https://www.scottishleathergroup.com
 
About the Green Cabin Alliance
 
The Green Cabin Alliance is a community interest company (CIC) founded in 2022. This new cross-industry group within the aircraft interiors supply chain advocates for aviation stakeholders to work together to decarbonise the design, manufacture, and supply of aircraft cabin interiors.
 
Conceived and directed by a collective of likeminded individuals from within the cabin sector, the group is actively engaging with the challenge of creating a sustainable cabin through: awareness-building, connecting innovators, promoting greener materials and processes, encouraging full-life design, increasing supply chain transparency, building common language and improving carbon footprint reporting throughout the cabin value chain.
 
www.greencabinalliance.org