Lineapelle Milan 2023

The SLF team shared a rare opportunity to come together in person during Lineapelle on 19-21st September.  Our Technical Director, Katie Kutskill was present from the USA and joined Sam, our Operations Manager and Deborah our MD, on our stand, where we welcomed visitors from all around the world. From Tuesday through to Thursday the […]

Deborah Taylor Admitted To The Worshipful Company of Curriers

On Friday 22nd September 2023, our Founder and Managing Director, Deborah Taylor was admitted as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Curriers. The admittance took place at Tallow Chandlers Hall and was followed by a Michaelmas Court Dinner, where Deborah also delivered the after dinner address. The Curriers’ Company is one of the oldest […]

Desert Spring joins SLF

Throughout recent years in the leather industry, renewable chemistry alternatives have become more widely available and SLF recently welcomed into partnership a company that is developing another great example of innovation in this remit. DesertSpring is a joint venture from three companies that are experts in innovative social business, producing quality materials for leather production […]

July 2023 Newsletter

Our latest roundup of news, including information about our Are You Ready? campaign, Traceability, University of Northampton Sustainability Summit, upcoming presentation at ACLE Shanghai and our End of Year Partner Meeting.

SLF, LWG and ICEC sign at Lineapelle the Terms of Reference of the COTANCE initiative of alignment of Leather Traceability Schemes

The COTANCE initiative on alignment of Leather Traceability Schemes was launched at the last Lineapelle Fair, back in September 2022. Since then, it has progressed in monthly meetings in which the main leather-relevant certification scheme owners and interested CEN TC 289 Standardisation experts have prepared together with the COTANCE Secretariat the way for defining the […]

SIPS Project: Workshops in Tanzania

Last week saw the first on-the-ground visit to Tanzania under the SIPS project to participate in workshops in Dodoma and Mwanza. The first workshop, in Dodoma, was attended by 45 representatives from national and local government, leather manufacturers and footwear manufacturers.  Following the main presentations, the assembled group held some interesting discussions around the key […]

University of Northampton Sustainability Summit 2023

On 15th and 16th May, Northampton University held their inaugural Sustainability Summit with the central theme of “Adapting to a changing world – addressing our shared sustainability challenges” The 2-day event which was held at the University’s Waterside Campus,  brought together representatives from local, national and international businesses, along with academia and government, to discuss […]

Ars Tinctoria publication on Biobased Content of Materials

Ars Tinctoria, founded in 2011, specialises in the research of materials and their dyes and pigments. Recent research has focused on the assessment of Biobased Carbon content on materials, to combat the widespread practice of greenwashing, particularly around sustainability claims. The publication of the findings of this research entitled “Materials’ Circularity: A Novel Method for […]

SLF appoint Zain Akber as our Head of Auditing Services

As we continue to grow at SLF, we are delighted to strengthen our team with the appointment of Zain Akber as our Head of Auditing Services.  Ensuring a robust and credible audit service is paramount, particularly in the changing landscape of the leather industry as we endeavour to meet the challenges of incoming legislation.  Zain […]

Creating safe and sustainable supply chains: UNIDO Occupational Safety and Health Course for the leather industry

For twenty years, 28 April has been observed as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work to spotlight the need to prevent accidents and diseases at work.
28 April is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996 to honour the memory of victims of occupational accidents and diseases.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) promotes industrial safety and safe working conditions and, as a contribution to World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023, has launched a new course, Occupational Safety and Health Aspects of Leather Manufacturing.