Leather Naturally, a non-profit industry organization, has launched a new guide to help the leather industry understand and implement life cycle assessments (LCAs). The guide aims to provide stakeholders with the necessary knowledge to conduct, interpret, and collaborate on LCA studies, which evaluate the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle.
For the leather industry, LCAs examine various stages, from livestock rearing and hide processing to product usage and disposal. The guide seeks to establish a standardized approach for measuring the environmental impact of leather goods production.
Key aspects of the guide include the importance of LCAs in informing business decisions related to material selection, processes, technology, and suppliers.
It also has a explanation of different LCA methodologies and their advantages, guidance on data collection, including primary and secondary data sources, among other things.
Leather Naturally conducted an industry-wide LCA, incorporating data from 56 studies across six major tanning companies in 11 countries, to assess the environmental impact of cow leather production. This study covered stages from raw material extraction to finished leather production, measuring impacts across eight categories, including global warming potential and water consumption.
Similarly, the LWG performed an aggregated LCA based on its member data, released to stakeholders in December 2024. Both organisations have agreed to combine their LCA findings for submission to the Higg Index, enhancing industry sustainability metrics. This combined data has been approved.
