Leather’s European future discussed at EU event

COTANCE is responsible for promoting the interests of the European tanning industry.

The Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE) recently took part in the European Union’s ‘Shaping the future of a competitive textiles ecosystem’ event in Brussels. This was organised by the directorate‑general for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission.

COTANCE is the representative body of the European leather industry. It is a non-profit organisation established to promote the interests of the European tanning industry at international level. In addition to representing European tanners and dressers, it promotes European leather both in the European and international markets.

The meeting brought together footwear, textile, clothing and leather stakeholders from across the EU to share industry needs and challenges with the Commission and to receive updates on the regulatory agenda shaping these sectors.

Key topics included the Textile Labelling Regulation, Ecodesign (in particular the criteria for recycled content and durability), new EU waste rules, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the creation of a market for the ecosystem’s waste recycling. As well as discussing these issues, COTANCE is pushing for a differentiation of natural materials such as leather, wool and silk from their oil-derived fashion alternatives, and the incentivisation of the use of the former ‘rather than supporting more plastics’.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 3 of the February 2026 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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