The Leather Naturally Fact Sheet is now available - it presents as series of truths that are often misrepresented about the leather industry in a straightforward and easy-to-understand format.
A group of European leather industry players, supported by Leather Naturally, have produced a video to promote responsibly produced leather.
Produced by UKLF this concise guide explains what leather is and perhaps more importantly what it is not as it busts some popular myths and explains just why leather is such an enduring and truly sustainable material.
Looking objectively at the world today we know we consume too much “stuff”, get pressured by the consumer society to replace it too quickly, and that a high percentage of that “stuff” is not responsibly made or recycled for one reason or another.
Chrome and vegetable tanning both produce appealing and distinctive leathers but to assume that 'natural' trumps 'chrome' in terms of impact is simplistic and misunderstands the process.
"I recently stood in a trade show booth for multiple days and answered consumer questions about beef production. It’s amazing that some environmentally conscious consumers actually believe the hype that beef production is causing more global warming than all transportation combined in our county!" Gregory Bloom, meatingplace.com
When is leather not leather? Brazil is very clear on the facts and has enacted a law that protects its leather industry from materials that use incorrect and confusing terminology.
When a consumer TV piece in the USA needed advice on how to differentiate bonded leather from full grain in response to a quality issue, Steve Lange Director of the Leather Research Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati shared his expertise.
It is entirely false to equate the use of plastic in automobile seating with sustainability. If car owners want to be sustainable they would insist on leather. Well-made leather from globally responsible factories is an engineered product of the highest quality. Unlike plastic it is natural and is not from a fossil fuel.
International Leather Maker has published a personal view of Egbert Dikkers, Chair of Leather Naturally of what the leather supply chain could be like by 2030.