Leather traceability standard officially endorsed

It is hoped that the new requirements will lead to a more sustainable and stronger leather industry.

COTANCE – the Confederation of National Association of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community – has announced that its ‘Leather Traceability Cluster’ (LTC) has endorsed a new set of requirements for traceability. The LTC was launched by this industry body in September 2022 to establish the minimum essential elements of leather traceability systems.

This new strategy was developed by COTANCE in partnership with the Institute of Quality Certification for the Leather Sector (ICEC), the Sustainable Leather Foundation, Oeko-Tex and the Leather Working Group. It is said to mark a ‘significant step towards increased transparency and accountability across the leather supply chain’.

The draft of the standard reportedly outlines a number of traceability and verification requirements, while providing a framework for industry-wide certification. In a formal vote, members of the Leather Traceability Cluster approved the standard for progression through the fast-track European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) process. The aim of such cooperation is to help develop a more sustainable and stronger leather industry, in addition to implementing robust certification processes and ensuring compliance with best practices in the area of traceability.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 3 of the March 2025 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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