Michael Costello, Group Director of ESG at Stahl, will discuss how growing anti-ESG sentiments will impact the leather industry at the upcoming Leather Supply Chain Symposium 2025.

The event will take place at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre on March 11, 2025, the day before the APLF trade fair.

In the presentation, titled “Anti-ESG sentiment and its impact on the leather industry”, Costello will discuss how, in response to growing hostility toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, many companies around the world are critically examining their ESG commitments. Some have become wary of taking strong stances on DEI or other social issues, fearing backlash from consumers and governments who may disagree with their positions, and others have scaled back their climate commitments due to accusations of greenwashing and the rising cost of transitioning to a green economy.

Companies that were once eager to highlight their ESG credentials are now adopting a more cautious approach. The current political and economic climate suggests that anti-ESG sentiment will continue to grow in the near term, and this tension is likely to play out in the political arena, with regulatory battles over ESG-related policies.

In this talk, Michael Costello will discuss the reasons behind the anti-ESG movement, its impact on the leather industry and how organisations in our sector could avoid greenwashing and continue to assess ESG risks while balancing anti-ESG sentiment.

About the presenter

Michael Costello is responsible for implementing Stahl’s strategy of ESG leadership in the industry and stimulating cooperation between its stakeholders, and has held the ESG Group Director position since 2015. He presents the case of sustainable development to customers, brands, industry associations, NGOs and universities.

Aside from his role in Stahl, Michael serves as a board member of the ZDHC Foundation and sits on the advisory board of the Renewable Carbon Initiative. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Leather Working Group from 2017-21. His focus is on raising awareness throughout the industry on sustainability-related topics like climate change mitigation, chemical management, life cycle assessment, sustainability reporting and supply chain transparency.

Look out for more speaker and topic announcements

The event is aimed at anyone working in the global leather supply chain, from raw materials through to finished products manufacturers, brands and retailers.

The Leather Supply Chain Symposium 2025 is lead sponsored by Evolved By Nature and Mindhive Global. It is a must-attend event for anyone looking to find out more about some of the industry’s hottest topics such as traceability, deforestation legislation, AI technology, biobased chemistries and life cycle assessments for leather.

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