The Leather & Hide Council of America was established only recently in 2020. What was the need to join forces? We don't often see industry organisations merging. Surely there was some very pressing reason?
The predecessor organisations to the L&HCA had a long and storied history, going all the way back to 1919. However, in the last decade or two, we’ve seen a substantial amount of industry consolidation and integration. Whereas there used to be a stark difference between the ‘hides and skins’ sector of the industry versus the ‘tanning’ sector, which necessitated two different industry organisations to properly represent their respective interests, in today’s industry the lines are much more blurred. Many companies now operate in many different sectors of the supply chain, and the old differences between sectors are not nearly as stark. Furthermore, the most pressing challenges faced by the industry are largely shared up and down the supply chain – chemical and environmental sustainability, challenges from plastic synthetics, misinformation about leather, etc. Therefore, the two predecessor organisations decided it would be best to combine resources and efforts to address these shared existential threats to the industry, rather than continue to try and fight them alone.
Though it is only two years, how has your organisation developed in these two years of the pandemic? If you were to list out your achievements, what would those be?
The merger of the two organisations has certainly been a challenge in its own right, and adding a global pandemic to the mix has certainly not made it any easier. That said, I believe we have achieved quite a lot in the first 2+ years as a combined organisation. Specifically, we have launched a consumer-facing leather education and promotion initiative (www.chooserealleather.com) that continues to see a dedicated and passionate following. We have engaged in the sustainability discussion in a strong and meaningful way, ensuring the leather industry’s views are heard and represented in some of the most important forum of today. We have also taken an active leadership role in the global industry, helping to galvanise support for mutually beneficial efforts the world over. It has been a busy two years and is setting a strong foundation for future efforts.
Your website mentions: "We also lead the way working to establish and promote best practice in leather production." Could you elaborate on this? What are the main best practices that you are promoting? And, in what ways are you doing this?
L&HCA and its predecessor organisations have been highly active in the space of industry best practice and guidance for many decades. The hides and skins industry in the US benefits from a uniform set of product standards called the ‘Standards Governing the Sale of North American Cattle Hides’ that has been published by the association for decades. We have furthermore launched a hide and skin traceability programme for US companies that provides the framework for enhanced traceability along the supply chain. Through our Leather Research Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati we provide the consulting and testing services necessary to ensure our member companies are using the latest technology and practices to ensure they are producing safe, beautiful and sustainable leather products. Finally, through our partnerships with industry actors such as the Leather Working Group, Sustainable Leather Foundation, and World Wildlife Fund, we seek to assist and support industry-wide efforts to further improve hide and leather production both in the US and around the world.
