Sustainability is a key term for many industries, including leather production. It relates to the economic, social, and environmental aspects of a sector. Companies will often talk about profit, people, and the planet because viability requires consideration of all three. ‘Sustainable development’ was defined in 1987 as the following by the Brundtland report (which most people still use today):

Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (Brundtland, 1987, page 37) Report by One4Leather.

Leather is a sustainable material for several reasons:

Leather is very durable, reducing the need for new products;

The resourcing of leather is endless (i.e. it is renewable). New cattle are raised continuously and at the end of life, leather is degradable;

Leather is a by-product of the meat industry; therefore, leather reduces waste, which is what would happen to the hides if they weren’t used for leather.

Leather as a material can be defined as sustainable, as it does not affect the next-generation in meeting its needs (during best practices). Yet, as an industry, we must always ask: Can we do more?

Sustainability means regeneration…..to read the rest of this article, click on One 4 Leather – Regeneration