COTANCE argues against leather’s inclusion in EUDR

The European body says it has scientific evidence proving that leather production does not incentivise cattle farming.

The Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE) has presented evidence which, it states, clearly proves that leather is not a driver of the deforestation problem. According to COTANCE, a document it has commissioned entitled Socio-economic and Environmental Analysis of the Effects of Regulation 2023/1115/EU on the European Leather Sector is poised to be a critical tool in the upcoming review of the European Deforestation Regulation (known as the ‘EUDR’).

Commenting on the research project, Manuel Rios, president of COTANCE said: “This study is a game-changer. It clearly shows that leather, as a by-product of the meat industry, does not drive deforestation. Including leather in the EUDR scope is misguided and could have damaging socio-economic and environmental consequences.”

The publication suggests that no direct link has been found between leather and the causes of deforestation. It reports that leather is derived from cattle raised primarily for meat and dairy, and that its production does not therefore incentivise cattle farming. In addition, the document states that including leather within any EUDR restrictions could lead to severe economic impact by disrupting the European cattle and hide supply chain, leaving European tanners without needed raw materials.

It also claims that moving to synthetic alternatives risks the possibility of increasing ecological problems in terms of higher emissions and the use of resources, as well as by diverting cattle hides to landfills or even to countries with weaker environmental standards. Please click here for an in-depth review of the planned EUDR.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 3 of the November 2024 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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