ABSTRACT Despite several attempts over decades, process scalability and sustainability remains a challenge to produce an environmental-friendly enzyme to gain industrial attention. In the present study, microbial degradation of chrome shavings (chromium-collagen leather waste) and the resulting collagen hydrolysate for producing the dehairing protease by Bacillus cereus VITSN04 were investigated in a lab-scale fermentor. Scale-up degradation of shavings resulted in higher recovery of collagen hydrolysate (76%) within 72 h compared to shake flasks (68% in 120 h). Earlier achieved medium composition of collagen hydrolysate (12 g L-1) and molasses (15 g L-1) appeared to induce amylase in high rate, despite maximal production of protease (203.8±0.18 U mL-1), which was analysed by ANS fluorescence spectroscopy. Optimization of the media containing collagen hydrolysate (12 g L-1) and molasses (5 g L-1) was effective in producing protease (170.6±0.1 U mL-1) and reduce the co-synthesis of amylase (48.2±0.09 U mL-1). The controlled fermentation process, by feeding molasses during exponential growth phase had enhanced dehairing protease production (∼2.96 fold). The produced protease then partitioned through biphasic system showed significant dehairing of goat skins in pilot scale. Thus, scalability of the process to produce dehairing enzymes using waste, generated at the site of its use offers hope for sustainable greener production of leathers.