Free-from tanning chemicals
The restricted substance list (RSL) has dominated conformance/compliance in the leather industry for the past 15 years. Karl Flowers, ILM Consultant Technical Editor, discusses. Read More...
Business insights for the global leather community
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UNIDO leather LCA guidelines
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Guidelines for Assessing the Environmental Footprint of Leather (2026) represents the most comprehensive attempt to date to harmonise Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for leather globally. It does a rather good job of replacing the now expired European Union’s (EU’s) Leather Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) - Category Rules (PEF-CR). Karl Flowers, ILM Consultant Technical Editor, shares insight. Read More...
Sustainable water management in the leather industry
The Leather Naturally Impact team has co-authored a “Guide to Sustainable Water Management”. The team includes sustainability specialists Aukje Berden, Sustainability & Marketing Director at Smit & Zoon, Kim Sena, Sustainability Director at JBS Couros and Lifecycle Assessment Leader, and Camile Mori, Chief Sustainability Officer at PrimeAsia Leather Company. Read More...
Leather finishing remains at the core for Stahl
ILM Editor Megan Thomas interviews Stahl CEO Maarten Heijbroek on why leather finishing remains central to the company’s strategy and what the future holds as Stahl prepares for its next chapter under Henkel’s ownership. Read More...
Gelatine: a US$5.5 billion opportunity
In this overview, ILM Editor Megan Thomas looks beyond leather at the gelatine industry, exploring where gelatine fits into the leather value chain, why it matters economically and where the opportunities and challenges lie. Read More...
Barnini Group unveil leather finishing technology in Milan
Barnini Group are set to unveil Vector, a breakthrough technology for leather finishing, at Simac Tanning Tech 2026 in Milan. Developed after extensive research and field trials, Vector is designed to challenge conventional finishing methods and strengthen global competitiveness for tanners and finishers. Read More...
Machinery & AI: Testing in the tannery
Testing has become one of the fastest-evolving areas of leather manufacture. Karl Flowers, ILM Consultant Technical Editor, shares insight. Read More...
Biodegradable and low carbon leather
A discussion by Dr Sebastian Blanck, Global Head, Product Development Leather Auxiliaries, Zschimmer & Schwarz, and Karl Flowers, Consultant Technical Editor, ILM. Read More...
Building a regenerative future for leather with Mulberry
ILM Editor Megan Thomas interviews Rosie Wollacott, Head of Group Sustainability at Mulberry, about the British luxury brand’s sustainability strategy, its collaboration with British Pasture Leather (BPL), the importance of traceability and regenerative sourcing and why durability remains at the heart of leather’s future. Read More...
