Mulberry reports that it used 604.4 metric tonnes of leather and suede in the period, equating to 86.14% of its raw material mass. It states that all of its leather is sourced from environmentally-certified tanneries, and that over 99% are audited by the Leather Working Group.
The report suggests a 45% drop in Scope 3 emissions from the baseline year, largely due to reduced business activity. Accounting for 93% of Mulberry’s total footprint, these emissions span sourcing, production, transport, retail and travel. A new life cycle analysis of a UK-made bag with German leather improved data accuracy and now covers 10% of leather sourcing. Capital expenditure emissions fell from 4,158 to 452 tCO₂e, while waste emissions fell 17% and carbon intensity 78%. Overall, lower travel, waste, and capital spending drove a major reduction in indirect emissions.
Mulberry has also expanded its water and chemical management programme, now monitoring over 90 suppliers through WWF’s Water Risk Filter to assess water consumption and risk. In 2025, it updated its Product Restricted Substances List (PRSL) with guidance from Eurofins BLC, strengthening its commitment to safer, more sustainable chemical use in the leather industry. All raw material suppliers must have or implement chemical management systems, work towards ZDHC MRSL compliance, and complete due diligence and biannual self-audits to ensure continuous improvement.
Additionally, Mulberry sources 100% of its leather from environmentally accredited tanneries and is a member of the Sustainable Leather Foundation, Leather Working Group and Leather UK. Over 75% of its tannery partners achieved gold or silver ratings in recent LWG audits. The company is expanding traceability to the farm level, introducing a new traceability section in its annual tannery questionnaire and mapping Tier 3 suppliers. Its new Material Matrix assesses tanneries by hide origin, social audit presence, and LWG status. In 2025, Mulberry plans to strengthen this further, with hides sourced mainly from Europe (41%), the USA (30.4%), and the UK (22.7%).
Moreover, Mulberry’s circular initiative, the resale platform The Mulberry Exchange, continues to grow, reinforcing its strategy to extend product life-cycles and reduce waste.
Outlook for leather luxury
Andrea Baldo, CEO of Mulberry, said: “As we look to the future, we are excited that our partnership with British Pasture Leather is gaining momentum. Regenerative leather is possible, at a gradual pace. This innovative leather embodies our values and our vision for the future and were excited to bring it to life through Mulberry product.”
Mulberry’s leather-centric disclosure, including large volume use, near-universal certification of tanneries and explicit circular-goods strategies, signals how legacy leather-luxury brands are increasingly embedding sustainability into their core operations. However, the brand’s wider commercial results remind industry observers that even sustainability-led craft remains vulnerable to broader macro- and consumer-demand pressures.
