How the Leather Industry Can Improve its Image

Genuine leather has gotten a bad wrap lately, with climate activists promoting faux leather and other textiles as more sustainable options.

Of course, the truth is genuine leather is a byproduct of the beef industry, and quite sustainable in its own right. But with so much negative press, it’s difficult to get that message across.

That’s why International Leather Maker (ILM) is hosting a free webinar titled: “How the Leather Industry Can Use Science and Data to Improve its Image.”

The event will feature two academics, a tanner and brand manager sharing their perspectives:

• Dr. Sascha Dietrich, director of Testing Laboratory, and Dr. Michael Meyer, scientific director and managing director at the FILK technical institute in Freiberg, Germany, will provide an overview and key findings of the recent comparative study between leather and alternative materials and their characteristics and performance.

• Kim Sena, sustainability manager at JBS Couros, will talk about the company’s sustainable Kind Leather concept and the positive results of its lifecycle assessment and how this can serve to reinforce a better image of leather overall.

• Yoann Regent, biodiversity and animal welfare specialist working across luxury group Kering’s sustainability programs, will give insights into Kering’s environmental profit and loss account, and share why this is not only a vital tool in measuring the environmental footprint of its supply chain, but also helps with its decision-making over sourcing and plays a vital role in promoting better practices throughout the whole industry.

The presentations will be followed by a brief Q&A session.

The webinar will be broadcast on May 27, 2021 at 8 am ET and is free-to-attend. Register here.