Part of manufacturing is disposing of the waste that is created by the process. This is one of the factors that environmentalists focus on most and it is important that it be done safely for both the community and the environment. When creating rice vegan leather, Asif Ali Gohar is left with determining how to dispose of the wastewater and any other waste or secondary materials that are created.
The largest portion of the process for making rice leather is the water. It is necessary for several parts of the process, and it must be disposed of or used in a safe manner. As the raw materials are safe, the water that is created is also safe in most ways. It will not poison local waterways or the soil when it sinks in. The water comes in contact with mostly rice, but also with the equipment, which must be cleaned regularly and sanitized to prevent bacterial growth. These chemicals are relatively safe, but not safe to drink right away or to dump on the ground. To reduce the amount of wastewater that requires disposal, it is reused when possible, and then filtered and cleaned.
Once the water has been used and the process is completed, it is filtered through a set of filters that will remove all sediment and small particles that are built up within. After this it is cleaned and balanced, so that it is not acidic or containing any damaging materials. The water is reused where possible, and this completes a closed system that results in no wastewater being released into the environment at all.
The sediments and anything that is filtered out of the water is checked for safety. Where it is able to be used in the process again, such as when it is just small particles of rice that can be reused and dried to create a rice paste or paper, it is used as such. Where small bits of rock, soil, or other natural pieces, they are disposed of appropriately. These are safe for returning to the environment, and are therefore transported to the disposal site, which is regularly tested for any environmental dangers.
All other side products or waste that is created are all treated to be safe before they are disposed of. By using rice, water, and other natural materials and processes, there is very little that is not safe the entire process. Unlike real leather there are no tanning chemicals or processes that are harmful that would be released back into the environment. By protecting the land around the building and ensuring that they are protecting the environment, the company is ensuring they will have safe resources going forward and building goodwill in the community.
