PRESS RELEASE
European Leather Industry Provides Scientific Evidence in Support of Excluding Leather from the Scope of the EUDR
Milan, September 18, 2024—In a decisive move, the European leather industry presented strong evidence at the 104th Lineapelle Fair in Milan, clearly stating that leather is not a driver of deforestation. The comprehensive study, “Socio-economic and Environmental Analysis of the Effects of Regulation 2023/1115/EU on the European Leather Sector,” commissioned by UNIC and COTANCE and conducted by Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of the University of Pisa, is poised to be a critical tool in the upcoming review of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
“This study is a game-changer,” said Manuel Rios, President of COTANCE. “It clearly shows that leather, as a by-product of the meat industry, does not drive deforestation. Including leather in the EUDR scope is misguided and could have damaging socio-economic and environmental consequences.”
Key Findings:
- No Direct Link to Deforestation: The study, supported by an extensive technical analysis (94 million+ records, 29,200+ active serial titles, and 330,000+ books) and 28 stakeholder interviews, found no direct link between leather and deforestation. Leather is derived from cattle raised primarily for meat and dairy, and its production does not incentivise cattle farming.
- Severe Economic Impact: The EUDR's stringent traceability requirements could severely disrupt the European cattle & hide supply chain, leaving European tanners without needed raw materials. This could force businesses to close and result in significant job losses across the industry’s supply chain.
- Environmental Risks of Alternatives: The study warns that short-circuiting the European leather industry and replacing leather with synthetic alternatives like polyurethane leather-like materials (PU LLM) could increase environmental damage, in terms of higher emissions and resource use. Diverting cattle hides to landfills or to countries with weaker environmental standards would undermine the Green Deal’s goals.
“The inclusion of leather in the EUDR would not deliver the expected environmental benefits. Instead, it risks causing a supply shock and shifting production to regions with lower environmental standards,” stated Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, Secretary General of COTANCE.
As the European Commission prepares for the EUDR review, COTANCE and its partners are urging policymakers to reconsider the scope of the regulation, excluding leather. The Sant'Anna study provides robust evidence that leather is not a driver of deforestation and highlights the unintended consequences of misinformed policy decisions.
For more information or to access the study, please click here for a full version and here for a summarized one
23/09/2024 
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