JBS Couros Launches Antiviral Leather

Furniture World News Desk on 5/20/2021

JBS Couros has announced the launch of JBS V-Block technology, which inactivates the SARS-Cov-2 virus, the cause of Covid-19. At processing stage, a silver microparticle additive is added to the leather coating   providing it with antiviral qualities.

"Our leather has undergone scientific tests that prove the inactivation of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The application of this new technology sets a new standard in leather production. It not only inactivates the spread of viruses including  Sars-Cov-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, but assists in the preservation of the material making it ideal for use in surfaces that are used regularly or come into contact with a number of people meaning there is potential increased exposure to Covid and other viruses, such as furniture, seating and vehicle steering wheels or items such as clothing, bags and wallets.”, says Guilherme Motta, president of JBS Couros. 

JBS Couros already supplies high-quality, sustainably produced leather to key players in the automotive, furniture and upholstery markets in Asia, Europe, and North America, in addition to major manufacturers of footwear and leather goods in Asia and Europe. The JBS V-Block leather is available on demand globally.

In tests conducted in the level 3 biosafety laboratory (NB3) of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo (ICB-USP), the material showed 99% inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 30 minutes from contact with viral particles.  "The use of this technology increases the contact surface of silver and its prominence in the leather, enabling antiviral action," says researcher Lucio Freitas, who participated in the tests of the new material. The tests were made in accordance with the international standard ISO 21702, which establishes the most appropriate methods to detect antiviral activity in plastics and non-poral surfaces.

The microparticles are constructed from the synthesis of silver salts - an element chosen for their recognized antiviral action - and stabilized by synthesis technology. "Silver microparticles are able to inactivate the virus by two mechanisms: in its membrane - where they break this external coating of the virus and inactivate its entry into the host cells and, in RNA (or DNA), where they oxidize the genetic material of the exposed virus, inactivating its multiplication capacity", says materials scientist Daniel Minozzi, founder and director of Nanox, a company specializing in new materials and antimicrobials that developed the additive used by JBS Couros.

"We have worked with Nanox and USP to find the best conditions for the application of the additive, ensuring use of the appropriate equipment and regulations.  We also carefully tested the concentrations and application points of the JBS V-Block technology which also contributed to our success in the creation of an antiviral leather.", says Motta.

For more about JBS V-Block, visit  http://www.jbscouros.com/vblock/en.

About JBS Couros: JBS created the leather business unit in 2009 as an important part of its strategy to add value to the production chain. JBS Couros is the world's largest leather processing industry, with 21 production units, three cutting units, five distribution centers, three showrooms and four commercial offices on four continents. Currently, the company has more than 7,000 team members worldwide and produces leathers in the wet blue, semi-finished and finished stages for the automotive, furniture, footwear and artifacts sectors. In leather processing lines, clear and standardized procedures, combined with constant investments in technology and training, make JBS Couros one of the most modern companies in the world, transforming organic materials into noble and quality products, widely used in global industries.

About Nanox: Established in July 2004, Nanox® is a pioneering nanotechnology company that produces and develops solutions with intelligent materials for multimarkets in partnership with innovative companies. Composed of modern production areas, quality control laboratories, product development, technical support, scientific, marketing and a qualified multidisciplinary team, Nanox® follows guidelines of high level of management and transparency. With the various patents of new products and application, its trademarks and its awards throughout its years of existence, Nanox® is distinguished by the ability to transform the knowledge of nanotechnology into useful solutions for the improvement of quality of life, and in competitiveness for the businesses that adopt them.