Leather is one of Europe’s oldest circular materials — renewable, bio-based, durable, and biodegradable. Yet, it’s often overlooked in current EU policy frameworks.
In its submission to the European Commission, COTANCE calls for fair recognition of leather’s circular value and puts forward four key asks for the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act:
1️⃣ Recognise and incentivise the use of animal by-products in EU circular and bioeconomy strategies.
2️⃣ Extend authenticity and labelling rules to leather to ensure consumer transparency and stop misleading claims (like “vegan leather”).
3️⃣ Include leather in sustainable public procurement to promote renewable, durable materials.
4️⃣ Invest in R&D, innovation, and skills to accelerate the green and digital transition of Europe’s leather SMEs.
Leather is not just a natural material — it’s a circular solution that valorises by-products and prevents millions of tonnes of hides and skins from becoming waste.