EBRD’s Support Transforms Mongolian Leather Brand Maris into a Sustainable Success Story

EBRD’s Support Transforms Mongolian Leather Brand Maris into a Sustainable Success Story

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has supported the growth and sustainability of Mongolian leather producer Maris through its advisory services. Maris, founded by Enkhnasan Tumen-Ulzii, focuses on sustainable leather production and uses innovative vegetable tanning processing to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals. With the EBRD’s assistance, Maris introduced the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, improved production, decreased waste, and expanded its product range. As a result, the company has seen a nearly 70% increase in sales, reduced leather waste, and is now exploring international export opportunities.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 17-Oct-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Central Asian nomads are renowned for their functional, fashionable and durable leathercraft.

However, tonnes of unprocessed animal leather hide are thrown away in Mongolia. As the processing of leather is a trying and hazardous process, many entrepreneurs choose the more profitable and easier to procure cashmere. Every year, 7 million hides are semi-processed in Mongolia, 90 per cent of which are exported to Italy, Spain and Turkiye at low prices. The excess 7-8 million hides are added to the growing landfills in the country.

Ms. Enkhnasan Tumen-Ulzii, a Mongolian leather professional, wanted to reduce the level of discarded animal hides. She founded her brand Maris in 2016, focusing on sustainability and green technology. Their adoption of an innovative ‘vegetable tanning processing’ removed the requirement of many of the hazardous chemicals no longer needed for leather processing.

The Maris brand, initially focusing primarily on leather handbags, rapidly transformed into Maris Trade LLC in 2019. However, as the company grew, so did its need to improve its product development, production, marketing and sales. With the company approaching a critical moment, their leadership sought professional assistance and enrolled in the EBRD’s highly competitive bundled consultancy programme.

This business advisory service diligently analysed Maris’s activities and immediately took on the task of introducing the internationally recognised ISO 9001:2015 quality management system into company operations.

“Our errors appeared apparent with the help of the consulting. Despite Maris growing, we were still operating like a micro business with little strategic overlook and planning,” Enkhnasan explains.

With the major reforms supported by the consulting service, Maris increased its sales by revamping and improving their production.

They drastically decreased waste by introducing an early detection system for faulty animal hide and began utilising smaller pieces of usable material through the production of new accessories such as mousepads, card holders and other utilities. The company bounced back and today it is trendy for youth in Mongolia to purchase these durable and fashionable leather accessories.

“I started Maris because I wished to reduce the leather waste in my community. With the help of the advisory service, we can now repurpose large amounts of raw leather that would previously have become waste,“ says Enkhnasan excitedly. “The customers are happy too as we are now introducing new leather accessories that were not available in the domestic market,” she adds.

Compared to 2021, Maris’s sales have increased by nearly 70 per cent. With the successful implementation of the management system, the company is now equipped to export its goods internationally and has even created a prototype rugby ball for their new Japanese partners. It is now set out to send out test products to European countries.

Today, Maris is an inspiration to many leather producers in Mongolia. Not only does their business serve as an example for its industry peers, but small and medium businesses from all sectors have become eager to approach the EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses programme to improve their efficiency and business operations.

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SOURCE: EBRD