October 28, 2021

Leather and Hide Council of America

International Leather Industry Calls on COP26 to Reduce Reliance on Fossil-Fuels, Prioritize Natural Materials


Washington, DC, October 28, 2021 – The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA or Association), along with 30 other international leather industry organizations, today called on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to prioritize natural materials as a means of directly mitigating climate impact. The “Leather Manifesto,” written by the organizations, challenges the COP26 to recognize the cyclical, climate-efficient characteristics of natural fibers and their potential to reduce the climate impacts of consumer products.

“Natural fibers are part of the biogenic carbon cycle and as such are comprised of carbon that has been in the atmosphere for a millennia,” the Leather Manifesto states. “These readily available raw materials, when ethically and properly produced, are an important replacement for fossil fuels, reducing the need for its extraction and retaining more carbon in the earth. Furthermore, at the end of life, properly produced natural materials will biodegrade, limiting their impact and mitigating harmful emissions, such as microplastic pollution, often associated with synthetic materials.”

The Manifesto further notes that natural materials, such as leather, are often dismissed through a lack of understanding of the manufacturing process and its supply chain, or through the application of questionable science generally in the form of incomplete and incomparable or outdated Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). Alternative materials, often fossil fuel-based synthetic alternatives, use this confusion to make unsubstantiated claims about their sustainability.

“Natural materials such as leather, should be celebrated and widely adopted as the materials of choice in the fight to mitigate climate change,” said LHCA President Stephen Sothmann. “The COP26 conference offers an unprecedented opportunity for global leaders to prioritize these materials in a way that will reduce our overdependence on fossil-fuel based synthetic materials,” Sothmann added.

About LHCA

The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) is a full-service industry trade association representing the entire U.S. leather supply chain, including meatpackers, hides and skins processors, traders, leather tanners, finished leather goods producers, footwear companies, chemical suppliers, and more. The association provides its members with government, public relations, and international trade assistance and support. LHCA is a cooperator organization under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s foreign market development programs, assisting U.S. firms develop new markets for U.S. agricultural exports. LHCA is at the forefront of the industry’s needs, providing members with education and technical information to compete in today’s global marketplace.