Greenbelts®. Natural leather products

The Greenbelts® label manufactures natural leather products that are produced fairly, adhere to the principles of sustainability, and are designed to bring their owners long-lasting joy. Behind the brand, based in the Osnabrück region, is founder Rolf Ihmels. He has been in the industry for a long time, and his current line of work is practically in his blood—belts were already being manufactured at his parents’ company, which still operated conventionally at the time.

In 2005, Ihmels started his own business with his own brand. His commitment to sustainability begins with the location itself. The facility is not a new building but a former carpentry shop that once produced solid-wood furniture. Exclusively vegetable-tanned full-grain cowhide leather from European tanneries—all of which guarantee compliance with relevant environmental standards—is processed into belts and bags right next to the offices. These are sturdy, authentic leathers that require neither lining nor interlining—you can feel, see, and smell it in the finished product. And they are leathers that can return to the natural material cycle after use.

Ihmels takes the approach that every piece of leather he works with was once the skin of a living creature and should be treated with respect and honor accordingly. For this reason, he goes to great lengths to process the leather in a way that preserves its quality over the long term.