The First Social & Environmental Report of the European Leather Industry

Abstract

This first Social & Environmental Report of the European Leather Industry has been elaborated within the context of the SER III Social Dialogue Project, implemented by the social partners of the European Tanning Industry: COTANCE and industriAll-European Trade Union. The document represents a novel approach for the entire European leather industry; no other sector involved in the leather value chain has ever prepared such a comprehensive analysis of the environmental and social factors that are involved in the economic growth of the industry at continental level. contribution of several national industrial associations (representing 90.9% of European tanneries and 76.6% of the workforce), provides key environmental and social indicators linked with the industrial activity. The analysis of social and environmental indicators demonstrates that tanneries in Europe are increasingly committed to the ethical and social aspects of their business, and that, through continuous investments, they have been able to ensure substantial improvements in process efficiency and in pollution prevention and control. The report takes into consideration the main elements that are linked with the sustainable development of European tanneries. The social partners have agreed on the guiding principles leading the European tanning industry toward its sustainable development. Key strategic concepts illustrated in the document concern the ecological role of tanneries that base their production on by-products of renewable origin. They build their leadership on a mix of tradition and innovation and therefore require a particularly skilled workforce. The document, moreover, presents in detail the structure of the European sector and, thanks to the European leather production historically positioned itself at the top end of the market, constantly seeking to improve quality and to innovate its offer to the market. All the efforts made by European tanneries over the years have resulted in improving the sustainability of their production. The excellent results achieved deserve to be valued more by stakeholders and better incentivised through measures encouraging new and future investments. The environmental and social values demonstrated by European leather help to keep European tanners ahead of international competition