On November 23, 2023, in Izmir, Turkiye, COTANCE Secretary-General, Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano gave the keynote speech at the opening of the 7th IAFLI Congress on Innovation Aspects for Leather Industry, updating the audience with the challenges and opportunities that the EU legislative initiatives will bring to European leather producers and those in other countries selling leather and leather products on the EU market. The Congress has drawn participants from various countries, including Turkey, Romania, the Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, India, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan, making it a melting pot of ideas and inspiration.
“The IAFLI Congress reaches audiences in need of relevant regulatory information and technical knowledge for the sustainable development of the leather industry in their countries”, said COTANCE Secretary-General
On the photo: Mr Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano with Prof Dr Candas Adigüzel Zengin, EGE University, Izmir, (left) and Prof Eshbaeva Ulbosin Jamalovna, Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Uzbekistan, (right).
A standout at the IAFLI 2023 Congress was a project led by Prof. Dr. Arife Candaş Adıgüzel Zengin, Ege University, Izmir, and Prof. Eshbaeva Ulbosin Jamalovna, Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Uzbekistan, focusing on the use of leather waste in high-quality paper production. These types of initiatives are crucial for promoting the circularity of leather.
At the end of the Congress session, Mr. Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano was honoured by Prof. Dr. Bahri Basaran and the organizing committee for his commitment to advancing the leather industry.
COTANCE Secretary-General also gave an interview to Magazine Leather to discuss leather's unique characteristics and its superior performance over 'vegan leathers'. The conversation also covered deforestation issues and how COTANCE is equipping the leather industry with knowledge and innovation.
The Congress showcased that the journey towards a sustainable and innovative future for the leather industry is well underway, bolstered by the knowledge, collaboration, and enthusiasm witnessed at IAFLI2023.