The International Council of Tanners (ICT) has expanded its Leather Manifesto ahead of COP31 increasing the number of signatory organisations from 13 to 24. However the updated list still does not include an Indian leather industry organisation.

Titled “A Manifesto for Leather on the occasion of COP31: Leather – the circular choice” the document calls on policymakers to recognise leather as a circular, bio based material and support its role in reducing the environmental impact of consumer products.

ALSO READ: ICT and 12 Leather Industry Bodies Call on COP31 to Recognise Leather as a Circular Bio Based Material

The updated list adds 11 organisations, including the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA), UNIC Concerie Italiane and Zimbabwe Leather Development Council.

In my earlier LinkedIn post, I questioned why India was missing from the original list of 13 signatories. Now the list has grown to 24 organisations but there is still no Indian leather industry body on it.

This comes at a time when the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has set an ambitious target of achieving $50 billion in sector turnover by FY2029-30. India has big plans for its leather industry but when global organisations are discussing the future of leather and its role in sustainability why is India still missing from the conversation?

ALSO READ: CLE Sets $50 Billion Turnover Target for Indian Leather and Footwear Industry by FY2029-30

All 24 Signatories to the Updated Leather Manifesto

Original 13 signatories

1. Association pour l’Assurance Qualité des Fabricants de Bracelets Cuir (AQC)
2. Australian Hide Skin and Leather Exporters’ Association Inc (ASHLEA)
3. Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB)
4. Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE)
5. Global Leather Alliance (GLA)
6. International Council of Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Association (ICSHLTA)
7. International Council of Tanners (ICT)
8. International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS)
9. Leather Naturally (LN)
10. Leather UK (LUK)
11. One 4 Leather (O4L)
12. Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF)
13. Wirtschaftsverband Häute/Leder (WHL)

11 organisations added in the updated version

1. Alliance France du Cuir (AFC)
2. Asociación Española del Curtido (ACEXPIEL)
3. Chamber of the Tannery Industry of the State of Guanajuato (CICUR)
4. China Leather Industry Association (CLIA)
5. Fédération Française des Cuirs et Peaux (FFCP)
6. Fédération Française Tannerie Megisserie (FFTM)
7. Leather Cluster Barcelona (LCB)
8. Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA)
9. Türkiye Deri Sanayicileri Derneği (TDSD)
10. UNIC Concerie Italiane (UNIC)
11. Zimbabwe Leather Development Council (ZLDC)