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How are brands and manufacturers ensuring traceability in the leather supply chain?

How are brands and manufacturers ensuring traceability in the leather supply chain?

Brands and manufacturers are ensuring traceability in the leather supply chain through several key initiatives, technologies, and practices aimed at enhancing transparency, ethical sourcing, and sustainability. Here’s an in-depth look:

1. Certifications and Audits

  • Leather Working Group (LWG) Certification:
    • LWG audits tanneries and suppliers to ensure environmental compliance, ethical sourcing, and responsible water and energy use.
    • Brands work with LWG-certified tanneries for better traceability and sustainability.
  • ISO Standards:
    • ISO 14001 certification ensures environmental management systems are followed throughout the production chain.
  • OEKO-TEX® Certification:
    • Ensures that no harmful chemicals are used in leather production, and the leather meets safety and traceability standards.
  • Animal Welfare Certifications:
    • Brands source leather from farms certified for humane animal treatment, like Global Animal Partnership (GAP) or Responsible Leather Round Table (RLRT) initiatives.

2. Supply Chain Mapping and Transparency Reports

  • Brands are increasingly mapping their supply chains to trace the origin of raw hides, monitor processing stages, and identify responsible suppliers.
  • Regular sustainability reports are published to provide transparency about their practices and progress toward traceable sourcing.
  • Example: Brands like Timberland and Adidas have detailed supplier maps and transparency initiatives.

3. Collaboration with Responsible Supply Chains

  • Brands partner with trusted suppliers and tanneries that adhere to ethical and sustainable practices.
  • Programs like “Farm to Finish” ensure leather can be traced back to specific farms where animals were raised ethically.
  • Example: Companies like Stella McCartney and H&M focus on verified, sustainable sourcing methods.

4. Traceability Software Solutions

  • Advanced software tools such as TrusTrace, TrackIT, or SAP Integrated Solutions enable brands to monitor the leather’s journey across multiple tiers of the supply chain.
  • These platforms integrate data from farms, slaughterhouses, tanneries, and factories to provide a full traceable picture.

5. Partnerships with Sustainability Initiatives

  • Brands participate in programs like the Responsible Leather Initiative (RLI) and Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) to promote traceability and ethical leather sourcing.
  • Textile Exchange’s Responsible Leather Assessment helps monitor the impact of leather supply chains globally.

6. Consumer-Focused Transparency

  • Brands are leveraging digital tools and platforms to provide consumers with access to traceability data:
    • Product tags, apps, or websites show the journey of the leather product, including its source, processing location, and sustainability efforts.
    • Example: Brands like ECCO Leather and Nisolo provide consumers detailed traceability information.

7. Independent Third-Party Audits

  • Brands hire independent auditors to verify each tier of the supply chain, ensuring adherence to sustainability and ethical sourcing standards.
  • These audits check for compliance with environmental, labor, and animal welfare guidelines.

8. Bio-Tagging and DNA Testing

  • Emerging technologies like DNA tagging or bio-tracing allow raw hides to be tagged with unique DNA markers.
  • These markers make it possible to trace leather back to the exact source farm.

9. Legislative Compliance

  • Brands comply with global traceability regulations, such as:
    • EU Deforestation-Free Supply Chain Act
    • US Lacey Act for traceable raw material imports
    • Country-specific laws for ethical leather and waste management

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