Leather Naturally and SPIN 360 have published a paper in the Discover Sustainability journal, titled: “A global study on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the modern cow leather industry.”
The study aggregated data from 56 LCAs across 11 countries, including several different types of leather and industrial segments, including automotive industry, footwear, and upholstery. The work was conducted by Italian consultancy SPIN 360.
Key findings
- Farming has a major impact: The study revealed that the upstream (farming) stage significantly contributes to five of the six impact categories (such as global warming potential and water use), highlighting the need for better farming practices and more accurate datasets on animal farming.
- Updating our understanding of leather’s impacts: The study highlights the need to constantly seek for updated results when making decisions on environmental impact assessments, since outdated and updated values can differ a lot.
- Benchmarking for further studies: These findings provide a new benchmark for future LCAs and highlights areas where process improvements can enhance sustainability in the leather industry.
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About Leather Naturally
Leather Naturally is a membership organization for the leather industry focused on promoting the use of certified, responsibly made leather. Leather Naturally provides expert information on leather as a material to consumers, designers, and brands. Find out more: https://www.leathernaturally.org/
About SPIN 360
SPIN 360 is a Milan-based consulting firm that specializes in the development of new sustainable business models and technologically and organisationally innovative solutions. It supports companies in defining and implementing a multi-year sustainability and compliance strategy. Find out more: https://spin360.biz/