Leather Working Group (LWG) and Textile Exchange have collaborated on a call to action for leather supply chains.
The Deforestation-free Call to Action for Leather offers a chance to coordinate efforts made by the fashion sector to increase sourcing transparency for leather. With the National Wildlife Federation, the Accountability Framework initiative, and the WWF as advisory partners, the programme seeks to establish guidelines for the procurement of leather.
Adidas, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., AllSaints, Arezzo&Co, BMW Group, Capri Holdings Ltd., H&M Group, Icebug, Kering, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Puma, Range Revolution, Reformation, Roots, R.M.Williams, and Tapestry Inc. are among the initial signatories.
According to the statistics, brands are purchasing a sizeable amount of leather from LWG-certified factories. Among them are American Eagle, Icebug, Puma, Reformation, Adidas, Capri, M&S, and Coach.
The Leather Working Group is one of the most used international leather certifications for tanneries and manufacturers in fashion. LWG conducts environmental audits of facilities, including chemical and waste management, and awards medals for compliance. Facilities must have a rating of at least 65 out of 100.
For the LWG and Textile Exchange programme, farm-level deforestation and leather sourcing without conversion are required. Signatories are required to establish and meet supply chain goals, make farm-level financial investments, put in place a traceability system, abide by conduct norms protecting human rights, and report annual progress using the Leather Road Map authorised by Textile Exchange under its Materials Benchmark.
According to the groups, businesses participating in the deforestation-free campaign must set goals within the first six months of joining and must show their initial financial investment by the end of the first year.
