Nonprofit Leather Working Group (LWG) has come up with a lifecycle assessment (LCA) study that offers a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of leather production across 50 diverse products within six product families, aimed to equip stakeholders with robust data for strategic decision-making in the leather industry.
THE PURPOSE: The report’s primary objective is to provide accurate and updated insights into the environmental impact of leather production, supporting stakeholders in reducing environmental footprints and making informed decisions.
- It identifies actionable measures to improve the environmental credentials of leather production, advocating for a holistic approach to mitigate adverse impacts.
- It is expected to help leather manufacturers leverage this data to reduce their environmental footprint, while brands and retailers can make informed sourcing decisions to advance their sustainability objectives.
THE SCOPE: The comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of leather production across 50 diverse products within six product families, includes chrome-tanned and glutaraldehyde-tanned leathers used in footwear, furniture, leather goods, and automotive upholstery, covering the entire production process from raw material sourcing to finished leather manufacturing, with data collected globally.
- The analysis focuses on one square meter (1m2 ) of finished leather, with additional metrics provided per kilogram.
- It assesses impact categories such as global warming potential, eutrophication, abiotic depletion, water use, freshwater ecotoxicity, and water consumption.
THE FINDINGS: The report, covering eight impact categories, identifies raw materials and upstream processes as the primary contributors to most environmental impacts, including GWP, eutrophication potential, water use, and water consumption.
- It revealed that raw material sourcing and upstream processes are the primary drivers of the environmental impact of leather production, particularly in terms of global warming potential (GWP). These upstream activities are integral to leather's status as a by-product of the meat industry and underscore the importance of allocation debates in environmental assessments.
- However, attributing the environmental burden solely to upstream processes would be incomplete.
- Core leather production processes also contribute significantly to the environmental impact, highlighting the need for improvements across all stages of production.
- While upstream processes are significant contributors to the environmental impact of leather production, core manufacturing processes also play a critical role. To achieve meaningful environmental improvements, a comprehensive approach addressing all stages of production is essential.
- Specifically, upstream impacts from farming and slaughtering account for 68% of the total GWP, with farming being the dominant contributor.
- Within core manufacturing processes, the post-tanning stage emerges as the most impactful, particularly concerning abiotic depletion, and freshwater ecotoxicity.
- Chemicals have been identified as the most significant environmental aspect in these areas, surpassing raw materials.
