United Kingdom, 16^th October 2024 – The Sustainable Leather Foundation, along with 21 other international leather industry organizations, has drawn the attention of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) to the impact of the fashion industry through overconsumption of short-lived, unrepairable products. Expanding on previous messages sent to COP meeting, The “Leather Manifesto,” highlights to the COP29 delegates capacity for leather to be part of the solution for climate change but highlights the need for informed, holistic measures of the impact of materials.

The Manifesto states, “Owners will cherish their leather products, repairing them and even passing them on to subsequent owners. Products made from long-lived leather can have an undeniably positive action in reducing the climate impact of fashion and other sectors.”. However, it calls for regulators to recognize the challenges faced by leather, noting that “The leather industry is constantly working towards ever greater sustainability and circularity, but our efforts will be undermined if regulators and brands do not give proper consideration to the real impacts and benefits of naturals materials like leather.”.

The Manifesto further notes that leather is an ideal choice for a sustainable future, encouraging re-use and slow-fashion. The leather industry once again calls for appropriate measures of environmental impact such as LCA, taking full account of all aspects of the production of any material and the promotion of durable products, and items that can be used many times, repaired and refurbished.