EU exempts leather from deforestation rules, industry seeks reputation repair
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Around 400 leather industry representatives gathered in Paris to discuss strategies for addressing negative perceptions following the European Union’s decision to exempt leather from its deforestation regulation.
In July, the European Commission officially excluded leather from the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a move secured through extensive lobbying by the industry. This exemption allows leather to enter Europe under different rules than beef, even when originating from the same animals, a situation critics call contradictory.
Industry representatives argue that hides have low economic value and shouldn’t be held responsible for deforestation caused by cattle production. However, environmental groups like Earthsight dispute this claim, stating the exemption creates a loophole and weakens the regulation. The leather sector is now focusing on scientific research, voluntary standards, and improved supply chain traceability to rebuild its reputation before a 2030 review of the EUDR.
The industry faces challenges in tracing cattle origins, especially in regions like Brazil where complex supply chains obscure links to deforestation. While the sector has developed traceability standards, identifying indirect suppliers remains difficult. The European Commission estimates leather accounted for up to 17% of deforestation risk among imported products, a figure contested by leather groups, but acknowledges excluding leather may simply relocate deforestation risks rather than eliminate them.
The EU will formally review leather’s status in 2030, giving the industry time to prove its ability to self-regulate.
