Leather to be officially recognised as bio-based material

Presenting at the 38th IULTCS congress, scientific director of CTC ARS Tinctoria, Gustavo Adrian Defeo, announced that, following four years of work to combat greenwashing, leather will be officially registered as a bio-based material under the CEN/TC 411 standards by the end of the year.

These European standards provide a harmonised for defining and certifying bio-based products, improving transparency and trust in the market. Key references include EN 16575 (terminology for bio-based products), EN 16751 (sustainability criteria), EN 16640 (determination of bio-based carbon content) and EN 16848 (business-to-business communication requirements). Together, they are designed to prevent misleading claims, support EU bioeconomy and circular economy goals, and give manufactures a way to verify and communicate renewable content.

With this recognition, leather now has the official right to be considered a bio-based material, a move that strengthens its position in sustainability discussions and gives tanners and the wider supply chain a clearer framework for making and defending environmental claims.