Leather Cluster Barcelona - Splenda Quality Leather

Tariffs and trade: impact on the leather industry

Original content by: APLF

While organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO) were created to handle disputes over tariffs and subsidies, countries have increasingly imposed their own trade barriers without waiting for global arbitration. In recent years, tariffs have become a popular tool, with the US leading the charge.

The US-China Trade Dispute

The ongoing trade war between the United States and China has drawn significant attention. One of the key areas of conflict is China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry. The Chinese government has been accused of subsidising the production of EVs, particularly the development of advanced lithium batteries. These subsidies have allowed Chinese manufacturers like BYD to produce affordable, high-quality vehicles that rival Western models. For example, BYD’s Seagull EV is priced at just $10,000, while Tesla’s cheapest model costs around $26,000.

In response, the Biden administration has imposed a 100% tariff on all Chinese EVs, essentially blocking them from entering the US market. The European Union has followed suit, raising its tariffs on Chinese EVs to as much as 38%. Both the and EU have moved to protect their own auto industries, which have fallen behind China in terms of technology and price competitiveness.

Alongside EVs, other sectors have been hit by tariffs as well, such as solar panels, steel, and aluminium. The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA) estimates that consumers in the US could pay an additional $10.7 billion in tariffs on footwear if Trump’s proposed trade policies take effect.

The Leather Industry’s Vulnerability

The leather industry, particularly the trade in bovine hides, is tightly linked to the US-China trade relationship. The US is the largest supplier of raw hides to China, and their partnership has been crucial for both economies. During the 2024 ACLE fair, the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) and the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) showcased their strong relationship.

However, if China retaliates with tariffs on US hides, it could send shockwaves through the leather industry. US hides would become less affordable and less competitive, and Chinese manufacturers would likely seek alternative suppliers.

The Winners of the Trade Dispute

Countries from the global south such as Brazil, Argentina, India, Australia and even Ethiopia and Kenya could benefit from the US-China trade dispute. Hide prices could rise in face of a dwindling supply from the US. This shift would directly prejudice US hide exporters to the benefit of other competing nations.

In these circumstances, countries suppliers of raw and salted hides, finished and semifinished leather can reach potential Chinese buyers by exhibiting at the major leather fairs in China.

The two events are APLF Leather (12 – 14 March in Hong Kong) and the All-China Leather Exhibition (ACLE, 3-5 September in Shanghai). These are the primary sourcing events for leather in Asia and where buyers can be seen under one roof, during three days of business activity.

You can read the original article HERE.

September, a key month in the positioning of leather as an example of Sustainable Fashion

Original content by: Leather Cluster Barcelona

Last September, various events took place that gave visibility to leather and its industry within the Sustainable Fashion approach, highlighting the long life and longevity of articles made from leather.

On the one hand, Lineapelle, one of the oldest and most prestigious international leather fairs in the world, was held from 17 to 19 September in Milan, dedicated to leather, accessories and components for the footwear, leather goods, clothing and furniture industries.

The 104th edition of Lineapelle brought together 1,259 exhibitors from 43 countries in more than 45,000 square metres of exhibition space, consolidating the Italian fair in its position as a global platform for the fashion, luxury and design industries.

A total of ten tanning companies associated with Leather Cluster Barcelona have taken part in Lineapelle, exhibiting their leather goods in this great international showcase where professional fashion experts from all over the world meet to look for new products, trends and accessories.

The tanneries Aqualata, Badia, Colomer 1792, Combalia, Despell, La Doma, Miret, Morera Pell, Riba Guixà and Splenda have exhibited in one of the world’s fashion capitals, Milan, claiming leather as an example of Circular Economy and Sustainable Fashion.

But Lineapelle has not been the only event to defend leather as a benchmark for Sustainable Fashion. On September 9 and 10, the Sustainable Leather Forum was organized. Sustainable Leather Forum is the first international event dedicated to sharing the best practices of Corporate Social Responsibility in the leather sector and its ecosystem. Held in Paris, it brought together more than 400 international participants to discuss social, environmental and economic issues facing the leather industry over two days of keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking sessions.

Also in the Sustainable Fashion key and at a global level, OXFAM, the international cooperation NGO that works to end poverty and inequality in the world, has promoted this month the Second Hand September campaign, encouraging us all to position ourselves against the fast fashion consumption model. ⁠

All these events take place in the midst of a debate in society about production models and the use of sustainable items in the fashion industry. In this sense, one of the global objectives to protect the planet of the United Nations Organization is responsible production and consumption. The UN, in its 12th Sustainable Development Goal, calls on governments, the private sector and society to increase resource efficiency for environmental preservation, promoting more sustainable consumption styles.

The current fashion model, based on fast fashion, is linked to hyperconsumption that has important environmental consequences. In this context, leather is positioned as a clear example of Circular Economy and Sustainable Fashion to reduce the negative impacts that fast fashion generates.

The leather industry contributes to responsible and sustainable consumption, revaluing a by-product so that it does not become waste, to produce durable consumer goods. In fact, a leather item can last a lifetime, offering a sustainable alternative to the throwaway culture.

In this context, leather is a durable and timeless material that can be used for many years, it is, therefore, a good that contributes to the reduction of consumerism. In contrast to fast fashion, a business model based on creating disposable products, largely represented by synthetic materials that want to imitate leather, made from plastic, made from compounds derived from petroleum, a limited natural resource, which beyond the negative environmental impact during its production process, is expensive and complicated to recycle and has very poor biodegradability.

Leather Cluster Barcelona is a competitive cooperation environment to promote transversal and transformative strategic projects with the aim of boosting the leather sector ecosystem and its value chain within the framework of Shared Value policies. The cluster is an accredited entity within the Catalonia Clusters programme and has the support of Acció.

You can access the original post HERE

Workplace safety and minimizing carbon footprint: Green Deal Leather goals

Original content by: Lederpiel

On May 16, the social partners of the European leather industry, the Cotance employers’ association and the IndustriAll-Europe syndicate, held the final conference of the Green Deal Leather project in Brussels (Belgium) after two years of work. The event attracted around a hundred attendees and marked the end of a project in which the national tanning associations of Spain (Acexpiel), Portugal (APIC), France (FFTM), Hungary (MKZS), Italy (UNIC), Germany (VDL) and Austria (FVTBSL).

The main goal of the project was to know with primary data the real situation of the leather industry in aspects so relevant to advancing the circular economy such as safety in the workplace within tanneries and the carbon footprint of leather generated by the tanning activity. In this sense, during the introduction of the conference, Gustavo González-Quijano, general secretary of Cotance, commented on some of the main conclusions of the project’s research. In relation to work accidents, González-Quijano pointed out that these decreased by 16% in two years in the countries participating in the study (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Hungary and Austria); that is, from 1,317 accidents in 2019 to 1,102 in 2021. It should be noted that 15% of occupational accidents in the European tanning sector occur in itinere (on the way to or from work) and that more than 90% of recorded accidents are classified as “minor” in severity. Regarding the carbon footprint of leather, the results of the studies indicated that the average emissions are 8 kg of CO2 per square meter of bovine leather produced. In this sense, the majority of the carbon footprint is produced by the chemicals used in the tanning process.

You can access the original post HERE

Leather Cluster Barcelona publishes a dictionary of natural hides imperfections

Original content by: Lederpiel

Animal hide is very complex, proteinaceous in nature, heterogeneous and extremely irregular. The quality of hides is conditioned by several factors that may have affected the animal’s life and may lead to some type of imperfection or defect: parasites, chafing, scars, marks, etc. On the other hand, during the leather tanning process, some irregularities may also occur that affect the quality of the leather.

With the purpose of providing information to the leather industry in this area, Leather Cluster Barcelona has worked for months to develop an exhaustive catalog that serves as a tool for professionals in the sector in identifying the types of imperfections or defects that it may have.

The Dictionary of Natural Skin Imperfections and Production Irregularities presented by Leather Cluster Barcelona contains a compilation of the main imperfections and defects identified in the leather. Specifically, up to twenty-four different types of imperfections have been characterized. The document includes the list of imperfections (name and key characteristics), the coding, the image of the reference hide associated with the defect (identifying the areas of presence of the defect) and detailed examples of each one. Descriptively, each sheet has information about the area (identification of the main location where the defect is usually located), an observations section with clarifications, explanations and details associated with the imperfection or defect, the difficulty of detection (qualitative measure of the degree of difficulty in detecting this defect by the specialist), the impact of the defect on production (indicates the severity of the defect on the finished product and the frequency (estimation of how often the defect is present: one in five hides, one out of ten, one out of fifty or one out of every hundred).

You can read the Dictionary of Natural Skin Imperfections and Production Irregularities HERE

And so you can access the original post HERE

Edition full of vitality and content for Lineapelle 103

Original content by: Lineapelle

Despite the complex economic situation, LINEAPELLE 103, held at Fiera Milano Rho from 20 to 22 February 2024, celebrates the conclusion of a particularly vital edition that opens up glimmers of confidence for the leather, luxury, and design supply chain.

Twenty-five thousand three hundred seventy-six sector operators (up on the February and September 2023 editions) animated with their interest and search for novelty the stands of the 1,167 exhibitors at LINEAPELLE who showcased collections and projects (reference season: Spring-Summer 2025) characterised by strong innovative research and a clear propensity for diversification of markets, proposals, and destinations.

The influx of foreign operators was significant (39% of the total), with a prevalence of buyers from France, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, Turkey, the United States, and China.

The vitality of LINEAPELLE 103 and its ability to open up new horizons even in a particularly worrying market moment, found expression and (great) interest in all the contents that enriched the exhibition experience, starting with the success of the six Lineapelle Designers Edition fashion shows. Very positive feedback also for the first edition of Lineapelle Interiors / Leather Duets, a business culture exhibition that staged a sequence of installations, each of which was represented by an exclusive leather design project shared between a made-in-Italy leather manufacturer and a furniture company. There was also great involvement for In The Making Atto II (an interconnected and multidisciplinary space where visitors to LINEAPELLE were able to take part in a series of craft workshops using leather) and for the second edition of the Science Based Fashion Talks, opportunities for debate and sharing aimed at discovering and defining green strategies for the entire supply chain.

A very profitable edition for Splenda Leather
Splenda Leather attends all editions of Lineapelle in Milan. It is a perfect occasion to perceive new trends in terms of tanning process and leather design.

It is also a great opportunity to strengthen ties with our clients and suppliers. To all of you, thank you very much for visiting us and receiving us. We return home with the firm conviction that, despite the uncertain economic times that many industrial sectors are going through, the health of our industry is strong and we have a good future ahead of us.

You can read the original press release HERE

Leather makers and EU Industries urge immediate action to conclude EU-MERCOSUR Agreement

Original content by: COTANCE

On January 11, 2024, COTANCE joined key EU industries, calling on EU authorities to conclude and ratify the historic EU-Mercosur Agreement.

The deal goes beyond trade and it’s an economic, social, & geopolitical imperative for the EU. In economic terms, it means access to key raw materials for green & digital transition, creation of tens of millions of jobs in Europe, strengthening rural area and access to a market of 270 million consumers.

For Leather, it also means a unique chance to reinforce the partnership with one of the world’s largest supplier of hides, skins and leather for the EU, and an opportunity to support the implementation of the tough EUDR standard entering into application in 1 year.

This is the full letter:

“Your excellency President Metsola, Your excellency President Michel,

Your excellency President von der Leyen,

We are writing to you on behalf of 23 associations representing a wide array of European industries and other businesses based in the EU, ranging from manufacturing to food-related sectors. We call on the EU and Mercosur leaders to rapidly conclude the trade negotiations on the remaining open points. In short, there is no time to lose.

Having the EU-Mercosur agreement in place will boost the integration of our economies and help to diversify our value chains both for imports and exports. This is key for the competitiveness of our export-oriented sectors that create tens of millions of jobs in Europe and provide an essential contribution to the prosperity and standards of living of European citizens. It also helps to promote the EU’s open strategic autonomy in times of rising economic security concerns by partnering with like-minded countries.

The agreement offers Europe a unique and timely chance to seize its first-mover advantage to partner up with one of the world’s largest economies. A deal helps to significantly reduce both high tariff and non-tariff barriers that negatively affect European companies’ chances to compete on Mercosur’s relatively closed market with over 270 million consumers. It is important to recognise the huge opportunities the agreement offers, which will help maintaining a strong industrial structure in the EU, including in rural areas, and thereby to safeguard the jobs and well-being of millions of European citizens. Given that the EU lacks substantial reserves of key raw materials necessary for the green and digital transition and the fact that a substantial proportion of global growth is expected to come from outside of the EU in the next decade, our industries need open export markets to sell European goods and services and procure raw materials at a competitive prices. The agreement is therefore an economic, social, and geopolitical imperative.

Committed to free, fair, and sustainable trade, we understand the need to protect the unique ecosystems of the Mercosur region. We believe that the EU-Mercosur agreement provides a very strong incentive and the right tools for collaboration to maintain the region’s sustainable development pledges, including the halt of illegal deforestation.

We, therefore, call on European leaders to act now and conclude and ratify the EU-Mercosur agreement, without further delay.

Yours faithfully, The Signatories”

You can read the original article HERE

A project demonstrates the better biodegradability of leather compared to other materials

Original content by: Lederpiel

The A3 Leather Innovation Center of the University of Lleida has recently presented the results of a biodegradability project based on compostability. Commissioned by Leather Cluster Barcelona, this initiative consisted of a scientific study to analyze the compostability of leather and other materials. The project concludes with scientific data that leather has a much greater degradation than synthetic and artificial alternatives that simulate hides. Furthermore, those responsible for the work confirm that materials that imitate leather have less resistance and permeability than leather.

The study aims to determine the differences at a physical and chemical level, as well as other thermometric properties, of seven different types of finished leather and three imitations of leather: a material of synthetic origin (commercially, imitation leather) and two alternatives based on raw materials of biological origin (pineapple and cactus) that try to imitate leather in the fashion industry (commercially, called “vegan leather”).

The work includes a complete physical and chemical characterization of the different materials under study, applying standardized methods of the leather sector on an international scale. Also included is a study of accelerated aging of the materials in a climatic chamber and their subsequent characterization, to determine what impact these extreme conditions have caused on the materials under study.

Once the composting process is completed, a leaching study of the different compounds is included with the aim of identifying the substances that the compounds release after experimentation.

Finally, a study of the volatile organic compound content of the ten samples under study is included. The objective is to determine if the different substrates contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of greater or lesser volatility, or of greater or lesser danger to the user.

Conclusions
One of the most relevant conclusions is that during the composting processes, while the different samples of natural leather analyzed present a total or partial degradation in a period of 21 to 35 days depending on the type of leather, the samples of alternative materials do not present any indication of degradation after 90 days of starting the compostability test.

Regarding physical properties, the alternative materials to leather studied show lower resistance and lower permeability, a fact that positions these materials with lower durability and well below the intrinsic qualities and properties of leather and for the uses to which they are intended. which is intended.

“The results of this project provide information and value to estimate with scientific rigor that leather of natural origin has much higher degradation rates than synthetic and artificial alternatives that want to imitate it,” say the scientists at A3 Leather Innovation Center.

Next steps
The biodegradability project will not end with the presentation of the study data, but both Leather Cluster Barcelona and A3 Leather Innovation Center UdL want to scale it up at the Jorba industrial composting facility in Barcelona.

With the scientific arguments derived from this project, Leather Cluster Barcelona wants to claim leather as an example of a circular economy and demand the correct use of the term leather only for those articles of natural origin. The term leather is used in many cases, but not always respecting the nature of its origin. Animal hides, used as a raw material to make consumer products, is a sustainable material with long durability and compostability. The leather tanning and finishing industry, as an agent of the circular economy, values this resource by preventing it from becoming waste.

«Leather imitations, both synthetic materials mostly made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU), as well as new fashion alternatives based on raw materials of organic origin from various industries, but produced with polymers derived from petroleum (the so-called vegan leather), are not biodegradable, recyclable or sustainable and will remain in landfills for centuries,” say those responsible for the project.

You can access the original article HERE

The tanning industry once again demands that the COP recognize the sustainable role of leather

Original content by: Lederpiel

Almost thirty associations related to the tanning sector around the world have signed a manifesto asking the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in 2023 to recognize the positive impact that natural materials such as leather have over people, the environment and the fight against climate change. The text expands on the one sent to the previous COP summit in Egypt in 2022 and highlights the ability of leather to optimize natural resources without causing negative impacts on the environment.

“Leather manufacturing can create employment opportunities and generate wealth and security in disadvantaged regions, both directly and in related industries,” states the Leather Manifesto, signed by leather associations. “Greater use of natural materials would create jobs, reduce waste and could be a direct driver of more sustainable agricultural practices,” the text states.

The new Leather Manifesto also points out that leather is an ideal option for a sustainable future, which encourages reuse and slow fashion. The leather industry hereby demands once again appropriate measures to correctly evaluate the life cycle of a product, taking into account all aspects of the production of any material and the promotion of products that are durable and can be used many times. Sometimes, repaired and renewed, as is the case with leather.

“Leather is the best material for beautiful and durable products that can be used by more than one owner, that can be repaired or renewed, prolonging their useful life, and that biodegrade at the end of their useful life,” says Gustavo González-Quijano, secretary general of the Confederation of National Associations of Tanners of the European Community (Cotance), one of the signatories of the manifesto. On the part of Spain, the Spanish Tanning Association (Acexpiel) and the Leather Cluster Barcelona appear as signatories of the document.

COP28 will be held this year from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

You can download the Leather Manifesto HERE

And so you can access de original article HERE

Inflation continues to boost foreign sales of semi-tanned and tanned hides

Original content by: Lederpiel

During the first seven months of 2023, the value of Spanish exports of semi-tanned and tanned leather continued at record levels due to high inflation in recent months. On the contrary, sales abroad of raw hides fell again by around 20%.

In this way, according to data from the General Directorate of Customs, between January and July of this year, compared to the same period in 2022, exports of raw hides fell by 19.3% (19 million euros less), while that those of semi-tanned leather rose by 19.7% (8.6 million euros more) and those of tanned leather increased by 4.1% (10.4 million euros more).

If we compare the first seven months of 2023 with those of 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of raw hides decreased by 14.8%, while semi-tanned leather increased by 57.4% and those of tanned leather, 16.4%.

Imports
Regarding imports of hides and leather, between January and July 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, foreign purchases of raw hides increased by 9.3% (3.9 million euros more); while the import of semi-tanned leather grew by 2.9% (2.1 million euros more) and those of tanned leather fell by 6.9% (12 million euros less).

Compared to January-July 2019, sales of raw hides grew by 46.2% and semi-tanned leather by 21%, while those of tanned leather fell by 18.4%.

Consequently, the leather trade balance in the first seven months of 2023 showed an imbalance in general terms in favor of exports of 118.4 million euros.

You can read the original press release HERE.

Inflation continues to boost foreign sales of semi-tanned and tanned hides 19

A formidable edition of Lineapelle Fair

Original content by: Lineapelle Fair

The 102 edition of Lineapelle, the most important exhibition dedicated to the global fashion, luxury, and design industry, consolidates its international leadership by positioning itself as an authentic beacon in the context of a complex economic phase characterised by a widespread slowdown and a limited possibility of defining production and commercial programmes.

Lineapelle 102 (dedicated to the Fall-Winter 2024-2025 season) hosted 1,330 exhibitors and welcomed a 25% increase in the number of professional operators compared to the September 2022 edition: +26% Italian visitors, +22% those from abroad, arriving from 109 countries, with a particular dynamism of those from France and China, Japan and South Korea, confirming the reassuring return of Asian buyers to the fair.

“All the exhibition sectors at Lineapelle 102,” commented President Gianni Russo, “showed remarkable vitality. Creativity and the ability to involve and stimulate the various operators were the strong points of a show whose international leadership cannot be questioned and is even stronger after this edition”.

Lineapelle 102 reaffirmed the value of the exhibition synergy with Simac Tanning Tech (the international event with the most qualified offer of machinery and technology for the tanning, footwear, and leather goods industries) held concurrently at Fiera Milano Rho. A synergy that involved, in total, over 28,000 visitors.

The next edition of Lineapelle, number 103 (Spring-Summer 2025 season), will take place from 20 to 22 February 2024, again in the Fiera Milano Rho premises.

Splenda Leather in Milan

For Splenda Leather, this new attendance at Lineapelle Fair has meant a new opportunity to consolidate our international activity, expand horizons and perspectives, learn about the new trends in our sector and strengthen our personal and close relationship with our customers and partners. We are already looking forward to the next edition.

You can read the original press release HERE.