Vita Kobiela, Driving Projects & Communications at COTANCE writes on LinkedIn: From March 11-15, I attended APLF 2025, diving into countless events, receptions, meetings, and catch-ups with industry stakeholders. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with people I had only known online and to meet new industry professionals (+57 business cards)!

Key Insights:

• Leather is an exceptional, natural material, whose full impact on the green & circular economy is yet to be fully realised. However, thanks to the work of Gustavo Adrián Defeo, we are already seeing the scientific proof of its unmatched features.
• The future of leather lies in an alliance with other natural materials like wool, silk, and cotton.
• Natural materials, including leather, will make a strong comeback in the very near future.
• If you eat meat, you should wear leather – as Katie Kutskill – the President of Is It Leather? says. Wearing leather should be as natural for us as eating meat!

APLF 2025 reaffirmed that the global leather industry is united, innovating, and ready to stand up for its rightful place in the sustainability conversation.