We are sometimes asked about where our leathers come from and their sustainability and traceability.
We sell a huge variety of leather types and pieces from wide ranging tanneries in the UK and Europe and indeed worldwide. It would be an easy answer to say this question is just too big for us answer.
The truth is rather different, the vast knowledge and experience that Peter and Jackie bring to the business, as well as their extensive network of contacts in the leather industry means we can generally tell you the story behind the majority of our leathers.
Here are some examples that might surprise you:
Kangaroo leather
All sourced from one of the world’s premier tanneries, a member of the Leather Working Group, Silver Medal*, with the leather processed under the PURE = Processed Under Rigorous Environmental Standards. These environmental stewardship and clean processes were recognised by the Queensland Government, with an ecoBiz partnership award.
Kangaroo leather is a genuinely sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to synthetics — wild-harvested from a large, self-replenishing large population of 30m, under strict Australian government quotas, with no farming, no land clearing, and none of the methane footprint of cattle or sheep. It's a by-product of the food industry, so nothing goes to waste, making it a renewable resource with a genuinely low environmental impact.
*Note: The Silver Medal given for our kangaroo leather represents a mark down on electricity use which is currently measured in dollars rather than units and reflects the increased pricing of electricity rather than a high usage.
Natural Vegetable Tanned Calf Leathers
These leathers are sourced from a traditional tannery in the Indian sub-continent that has a LWG rating of Silver. The leathers is certified with a REACH Declaration, these means that any of the substances that are used in the tanning process are safe.
Lightweight Suedes, Metallics – LWG Gold Certification.
Our soft lightweight suedes are tanned from pigskins and come with the highest rating from LWG as Gold certified. These leathers can be used as linings, are great for machine sewing clothing and jackets, soft bags, applique and more., with a low environmental impact.
Lightweight Creamy White Calf
Made to the highest EU standards, with waste product from the olive oil industry used in the tanning process, as well as a zero waste and water recycling. The pieces themselves come as workbench remnants from a notable UK manufacturer, extending the lifecycle and reducing waste further.
Due to our industry contacts we have been able to source remainder leathers from UK tanneries that have sadly had to close. These tanneries are Claytons of Chesterfield and Pittard’s in Somerset. Both Peter and Jackie have had direct involvement over the years. Look for our Heritage labelled leathers to see the leathers from here, and know that you are getting a very special piece of UK leather history.
Workbench Remnant Pieces and Scraps
Working with UK manufacturers to help reduce wastage, we selectively source leathers that can be used in the craft sector, This means that as well as some regular lines we have a lot of one off pieces, either from sampling or from specific high end leather collections.
Working with these leather pieces allows us and our customers to push the bounds of their creativity, giving these leather extended and continued new life.
Look for Firm and Soft calf – sourced from a UK shoe manufacturer, these are high end French and Italian leathers. The skill of a leather clicker in shoe making will be select very specific areas of the hide, often leaving largish pieces which are ideal for leathercraft.
What is the Leather Working Group?
The Leather Working Group sets Audit Standards for leather manufacturers to be assessed and certified – this recognises best practice and drives improvements in the industry. Over a third of global finished leather production is assessed using the LWG Audit Standard.
LWG Gold certification represents the highest standard of environmental performance in the leather industry, awarded to tanneries that achieve an audit score of 85% or higher across all assessed categories. This rating signifies that a facility adheres to rigorous best practices in water and energy efficiency, chemical management, waste reduction, and supply chain traceability, ensuring the leather is sourced from environmentally responsible operations.
Because the final medal rating is determined by the lowest score in any single category, Gold* status requires consistent excellence in every aspect of production rather than high scores in some areas offsetting failures in others. For consumers and brands, this certification provides verified assurance that the leather was produced with minimized ecological impact, though it is important to note that LWG audits focus primarily on environmental metrics and do not typically include comprehensive social or labour practice auditing.
What is a REACH Declaration?
A REACH Declaration for Leather is a supplier document confirming that leather products comply with the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, specifically Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. Leather is classified as an “article” rather than a chemical substance, so in this respect it is exempt from mandatory registration but must still adhere to strict chemical safety limits for substances in contact with consumers.
*Note: The Silver Medal given for our kangaroo leather rather than Gold from previous years, is solely due to one aspect, namely electricity use which is currently measured in dollars rather than units and reflects the increased pricing of electricity rather than a higher usage.
Useful Links /Further Reading:
https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/
https://www.leathernaturally.org/
Cotance - https://www.euroleather.com/news/environmental-footprint
https://www.tannins.org/digital-product-passport-for-vegetable-tanned-leather-what-the-eu-rules-mean-for-traceability-and-sustainable-supply-chains/
Note: This content has been written by Sarah Benson of Identity Leathercraft, it is genuine human content and is not AI generated.
