The leather industry, as part of the overall textiles ecosystem, is included as a priority sector as identified by the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and the EU Industrial Strategy. Here, the EU can create a circular economy that is carbon neutral as well as more fair from a social standpoint. These efforts will also help the textile sector come back from the damage that the pandemic caused as well as bolster its ecosystem for the long term.
COTANCE and industriAll Europe agree that action is needed for the leather sector in order to protect existing jobs and create new ones. This will all be facilitated by working toward competitive sustainability and more resilient European tanning industry that is greener and fairer. A number of projects revolving around social dialogue are planned to address the main issues in the Joint Manifest and Roadmap towards 2025 (Joint Multiannual Work Programme).
Specifically related to the tanning sector, they will look at workplace safety and leather's carbon footprint. Data will be collected through a variety of methods to give stakeholders accurate information. More than 80 percent of the sector in seven countries will be included.
Key topics will also be covered at two international workshops and the 2024 final conference in Brussels will present the results.
