At a session held on June 3, 2025, in collaboration with COTANCE and UNIC, representatives of the leather industry stated that “Leather production is not a cause of deforestation” under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The European Parliament became the stage for a powerful message from the European leather industry. During a high-level workshop titled “EUDR: Is Leather a Driver of Deforestation? – Bringing facts to the European Parliament”, industry leaders delivered a clear statement backed by scientific data: Leather is not a cause of deforestation.
The event was hosted by MEP Salvatore De Meo (EPP, Italy) in partnership with COTANCE and UNIC, bringing together more than 50 influential stakeholders from over 15 countries. Attendees included diplomatic representatives from the U.S., Argentina, Turkey, and Australia, as well as EU Member States, the European Commission, international organizations, tanners, experts, and global companies.
Science Over Myths
At the heart of the meeting was a comprehensive academic study by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa. The study analyzed over 330,000 books and 94 million records, concluding:
- While leather comes from cattle, those cattle are raised for meat and dairy, not for their hides.
- Leather is a secondary by-product, not a driver of cattle farming or deforestation.
Industry at Risk
Stakeholders warned that including leather in the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) could have severe consequences:
- Nearly 40% of EU leather raw materials come from outside the EU, where compliance with EUDR traceability requirements is often unfeasible.
- This threatens supply chains, SMEs, and thousands of jobs across Europe.
Synthetic Alternatives: An Environmental Setback
The study also warned that replacing leather with synthetic alternatives such as PU-based materials could result in:
- Higher carbon emissions
- Greater water and energy consumption
- Environmental dumping of cattle hides in countries with weaker ecological standards
What the Officials Said
“I am proud to stand with an industry that is the pride of Italian fashion. Legislation that hurts industry competitiveness without helping the planet undermines the EU’s credibility,”
— Salvatore De Meo, MEP (EPP, Italy)
“This regulation is disconnected from our industry’s reality. We thank Mr. De Meo for giving us the opportunity to bring the truth to Brussels,”
— Luca Boltri, Vice Director, UNIC
“Does the EU really expect a few tanners to drive global cattle traceability? That’s just unrealistic,”
— Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, Secretary General, COTANCE
Call to Action
As the European Commission revises Annex I of the EUDR, the leather sector calls for:
- The removal of hides, skins, and leather from the regulation’s scope
- Recognition of the real economic and environmental risks
- A science-based and fair approach to regulation
This event marked a turning point for European leather — an industry rooted in circularity, craftsmanship, and sustainability.